Ware County celebrated its 200th anniversary on Saturday; the county was established by the Georgia General Assembly in 1824 

Senator Warnock was joined by his mother, Verlene, who has roots in the city of Waycross, the county seat for Ware County and site of the bicentennial celebration

Senator Reverend Warnock has been a champion for rural communities in every corner of Georgia

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Know that I will always work to ensure that families and workers and communities in rural Georgia and South Georgia get their fair share of the pie, because I see my work as a senator as grounded in serving others, serving my community”

ICYMI from the Waycross Journal-Herald: Bicentennial celebration draws huge crowd

Waycross, GA – U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) returned to South Georgia to give remarks at Ware County’s Bicentennial Celebration. Community leaders and members gathered at the Okefenokee Fairgrounds to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Ware County, established by the Georgia General Assembly in 1824. In addition to his mother, a Waycross native herself, Senator Warnock was joined for the celebrations by Waycross Mayor Michael-Angelo James, Ware County Biennial Event Organizer Roy Rhodes, and a crowd of enthusiastic South Georgians. The Senator’s remarks centered on how Waycross is a microcosm of Georgia’s excellence with a history of bustling railways and a robust agriculture economy; Senator Warnock highlighted how he has been delivering for rural communities at the federal level and will continue fighting to ensure the next 200 years for Ware County hold more opportunity and investment for the region. 

“This is a historic moment. Today we mark 200 years of Ware County, Georgia. Ware County was established as Georgia’s 60th county in 1824. The date was December 15th–that’s tomorrow. Ware County is home to 36,000 Georgians and boasts 200 years of opportunity and progress,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. 

Above: Senator Reverend Warnock arrives to Ware County with his mother Verlene, a Waycross native

Above: Senator Reverend Warnock patronizes local small businesses

Above: Senator Reverend Warnock poses for a picture with law enforcement personnel

Above: Senator Reverend Warnock speaks with constituents in Waycross

“I’m focused on my people. I’m focused on the folk who asked me to serve. I’m proud of the fact that since you elected me to the senate, we’ve also secured $80 million in relief for economically distressed farmers all across Georgia. And in addition to that, millions of dollars in financial relief for Black farmers who were historically discriminated against by their own United States Department of Agriculture. […] Know that I will always work to ensure that families and workers and communities in rural Georgia and South Georgia get their fair share of the pie, because I see my work as a senator as grounded in serving others, serving my community,” Senator Reverend Warnock continued. 

Following his remarks, the senator greeted attending guests and patronized local businesses and vendors taking part in the county’s celebrations at the fairgrounds.

A full transcript of Senator Reverend Warnock’s remarks can be found below:

“Well, hello everybody. It’s wonderful to be here. Let’s give a great big round of applause to your mayor, Mayor Michel-Angelo James. I hadn’t thought about that–both he and I are named after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Renaissance artists. And of course, Raphael and Michael also are dangerous. I don’t know if we can live up to that, but how’s everybody doing?

“Listen, I can’t tell you how excited and how deeply honored I am to be back in Waycross, Georgia. I want to thank the mayor for his kind invitation and for his leadership in so many ways. I want to thank brother Roy Rhodes for organizing this event. Give him a great big round of applause.

“I want to thank one who has long roots and deep legacies in this community, Doctor Clark, give him a great big round of applause. Thank you. What an amazing history and legacy you represent.

“This is a historic moment. Today we mark 200 years of Ware County, Georgia. Ware County was established as Georgia’s 60th county in 1824. The date was December 15th–that’s tomorrow. Ware County is home to 36,000 Georgians and boasts 200 years of opportunity and progress.

“Over the decades, Ware County has served as a microcosm of Georgia’s excellence with bustling railways, a strong agriculture economy with an annual impact of over $90 million.

“Railways in a real sense made this area of our state. Not to mention the ecological exceptionalism embodied in the great Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge. We’re proud of this region of our state.

“And in recent years, industry growth has produced more than $70 million in capital investments and hundreds of new jobs. Like many communities, the advent of the railroad all those years ago represented the growth and explosion of Ware County, carrying people, products, and ideas. The railroad transformed this region and still makes its mark today.

“$4 million to the Georgia Forestry Commission to strengthen our timber industry, and an additional $1 million to help protect forest land around the Okefenokee. Know that you’ll always have my commitment to protecting the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge. 

“That’s why I’ve been honored to fight and to win half a million dollars for historical conservation efforts at Okefenokee. Also key funding for upgrades at the Ware County airport. And I was proud to lead the fight in the United States Senate to cap the cost of prescription drugs, particularly my bill, my bill which capped the cost of insulin for seniors on Medicare to no more than $35 out of pocket cost per month.

“Raise your hand if you know anybody who’s benefiting from that right now. Wow. Look at that. That’s why I do this doggone job–every now and then you get to do something that makes a difference in the lives of ordinary people.

“And I’ve got news for you because I’ve always been the senator who will work with anybody–Democrat, Republican, or Independent–if I can get something done for the good people of Ware County and the good people of Georgia.

“I’ve got a bipartisan bill right now with my Republican friend from Louisiana, John Kennedy, which would cap the cost of insulin for everybody to no more than $35 out of pocket cost, because insulin shouldn’t be expensive.

“It’s not as old as Ware County, but insulin was invented 100 years ago and the patent was sold for $1. And the only reason it’s unaffordable for many is because of the outsized impact of moneyed interest in our politics.

“But this is what happens when you elect a pastor to the Senate. I’m focused on my people. I’m focused on the folk who asked me to serve.

“I’m proud of the fact that since you elected me to the senate, we’ve also secured $80 million in relief for economically distressed farmers all across Georgia. And in addition to that, millions of dollars in financial relief for Black farmers who were historically discriminated against by their own United States Department of Agriculture.

“That is a part of our complicated history as an American people. And we’re better when we face up to it and deal with it while at the same time making sure that we provide opportunity for everybody.

“And so, Waycross, Georgia, Ware County, I’ve been coming here since I was a little boy.

“And so know that I will always work to ensure that families and workers and communities in rural Georgia and South Georgia get their fair share of the pie, because I see my work as a senator as grounded in serving others, serving my community.

“Can I tell you a little secret? You elected me to political office, but I’m not in love with politics, I’m in love with change. I put up with politics in order to do the work that matters.

“The mayor mentioned that I serve as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. You know why I’m still doing that? I return to my pulpit every Sunday because I don’t want to spend all my time talking to politicians. I’m afraid I might accidentally become one, but I’m so grateful for the opportunity to serve.

“It means that I get an opportunity to fight for you.

“I haven’t forgotten about the devastation of Hurricane Helene and other storms on our communities. And right now I’m leading the charge, a bipartisan effort to get disaster relief, agricultural disaster relief that is so badly needed in our state. 

“Here’s the thing–we know we’ve got so much more work to do.

“Groceries cost too much and the rent is too high. I’d put an adjective in front of that, but I’m a preacher. But the rent is too high. Profits for farmers and agriculture workers are thinning and too many folks are just one paycheck away from disaster.

“But I believe it should not cost your life to afford the cost of living. And so this is the work that we will continue to do. I know that we can do it. I’ll never give in to the cynicism of our times.

“I know what’s possible in America. I know what’s possible in America because I’m looking at it right now. It’s my 86 year old mother sitting in the front row. Give my mother a great big round of applause.

“Our roots are right here. My mom was raised in Waycross. My grandparents were James Alfonso Brooks and Lucinda Brooks. My grandfather was the deacon.

“I almost said the pastor, but you know, the deacons thought they were the pastor. Chairman of the board of deacons at the Friendship Baptist Church.

“The mayor used to read for him. My granddaddy was blind, but he was a brilliant man.

“I remember hearing those big-sized-13 feet moving around that little house on Vernon Street and we knew he was on his way to Friendship Baptist Church. I remember my grandmother with those hands baking chocolate cakes. I remember that they kept the faith and that he negotiated the double midnights of being a blind Black man in segregated Georgia.

“But they never gave in to bitterness. They never gave in to rage. They never gave in to cynicism.

“And that’s why in 2020, my mother who spent her days in the fifties as a teenager in Waycross, picking other people’s tobacco and picking other people’s cotton, was able to pick her youngest son to be a United States Senator. There’s no country like the United States of America.

“So Waycross, Georgia, Ware County. Congratulations for 200 years of history. Let’s make the next 200 years greater than the last 200 years.

“In this time of hatred and ugliness and division and despair, let’s build a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-generational, multireligious coalition of conscience dedicated to our one humanity.

“It happens in Waycross, Georgia. Those railroads still lead to progress and possibility. God bless all of you. Keep the faith and keep looking up.”

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