Kingston mourns loss 
of longtime staffer

Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) and his staff are in mourning this week following the death last Thursday of Myrlene Free, 78, one of Kingston’s longest-serving aides.

“Long before Georgia became a two-party state, Myrlene Free was a Republican Party voice in the wilderness,” Kingston said in a statement. “She and a mere handful had the belief, passion and work ethic to make it happen.”

According to Free’s obituary, the one-time homemaker became involved in local politics in the 1980s, and went on to hold a series of leadership positions in the state party, even serving as a delegate at the 1992 Republican National Convention. Since 1996, Free had worked exclusively for Kingston, and was still employed with the office at the time of her death.

“Preferring the backstage, Myrlene seldom made the headlines, but for nearly three decades every Republican candidate in Savannah, from City Council to president, sought her advice and support,” Kingston said. “Her impact has been and will continue to be enormous.”

ITK sends condolences to the Free family, Kingston and members of his staff.

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