Sanford Bishop: “my wife Vivian, all of our colleagues here in the Congress, and all of the hundreds of workers here on Capitol Hill were…”

“my wife Vivian, all of our colleagues here in the Congress, and all of the hundreds of workers here on Capitol Hill were deeply saddened to learn of the death of our friend and colleague, Juanita Millender-McDonald. Words are never adequate at a time of loss. Only one who has worn the garment of bereavement can truly understand the pain that comes when a family must confront the inevitable that one has been taken from its midst. Yet, upon prayerful reflection we must all allow our tears to melt into joy, because truly we have been blessed to have known, to love, and to have been a part of the life of this very, very exceptional woman. Juanita was a lady of achievement, of service, of public distinction, of beauty, of grace, of dignity. She was elegant and she was eloquent. She was the epitome of refinement, but she was committed. She was intellectual, she was a lady of principle, and she was an advocate for justice. Juanita was a person of great courage. She took on the toughest fight, but she fought it with dignity. Even in her illness, she took on that tough fight. I was happy to call her my friend, but I was happier for her to call me friend and confidante.”