Recognizing Honorable Charles Hobby Stripling, Sr.

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of a dedicated husband, loving father, humble public servant, and friend of longstanding, the Honorable Charles Hobby Stripling, Sr. Sadly, Hobby transitioned this life on July 3, 2023. A homegoing service celebrating the life of this remarkable man was held at 10:00 a.m. on July 7, 2023, at the Vienna United Methodist Church in Vienna, Georgia.

Charles Hobby Stripling was born on August 30, 1932, in Turner County, Georgia to the union of Maggie Thelma Hobby Stripling and Jodie Lee Stripling. Hobby graduated from Cordele High School in 1948 at the age of 16 and married his sweetheart, Joanne Duncan. They were married for 58 years until her passing in 2006 and were the parents of 2 sons, Charles Hobby Stripling, Jr. and Robby Stripling. Hobby was blessed to find love for a second time and in 2011 he married Ann Gambrell. They shared 12 wonderful years together and created a blended family to include Tonya Gambrell Thompson, Torri Gambrell Zeigler and Greg Gambrell. Together the Stripling and Gambrell children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other kin merged into a loving family unit which Hobby cherished with great pride.

During his life, Hobby held various jobs until he returned to Vienna, Georgia in 1962 to open the Vienna Red & White Super Market with James and Elsi Pass. He later opened Zippy Food Store, the first convenience store in Vienna, Georgia, which he operated for many years. This gave him the opportunity to interact with his neighbors, empathize with their challenges and spark a career of public service to ensure positive change for his neighbors, friends and family.

It has been said that ``Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy on this earth.'' Hobby paid his rent and paid it well. He served as Mayor of Vienna, Georgia for 24 years; President of the Georgia Municipal Association; and campaign manager for former Atlanta Georgia Mayor, Congressman and UN Ambassador, Andrew Young in his run for Georgia Governor. He was pivotal in my successful 1992 congressional campaign and in 1993, when the time came for me to hire a District Director, Hobby was a perfect fit. His leadership, compassion, patience, fidelity, advice, and friendship were the manifestations of love in action. He served the people of the 2nd Congressional District and me well for 10 years, then went on to serve as the District Director for Congressman Jim Marshall for 7 years and in 2008 was appointed by President Barack Obama to be Georgia State Director of the Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Hobby Stripling accomplished much in his life, but none of it would have been possible without the grace of God, the love and support of his beloved wives, Joanne and Ann, his blended extended family and the many souls that inspired and motivated him to serve. He touched countless lives in a positive way and because he did, the world is a better place.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the 765,000 people of the 2nd Congressional District in honoring the life and service of the Honorable Charles Hobby Stripling, Sr. and in extending our deepest condolences to his family, friends and all those who mourn his loss. May we all be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

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