[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 26, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: January 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             MA HENRY, A FIGHTER FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO

 Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I would like to take a 
moment to honor Mary Alice Henry, known as ``Ma'' Henry to the many 
people she has helped on the west side of Chicago. As we now move on 
toward the debate on health care I feel that it is important that we 
recognize those people who have dedicated their lives to making health 
care better, no matter what the surroundings.
  Ms. Henry started serving the people of Chicago as a nurse. However, 
when she retired at age 65, it was less of a retirement than a move to 
greater activism. Soon after retiring she was named to the board of 
directors at Garfield Park Hospital. She then went on to organize 
volunteer programs to provide food baskets at Christmas, to raise money 
for the Mary Alice Henry Center for Mental Health at Bethany Hospital, 
and to found the East Garfield Planning Center, which provides medical 
services to those who cannot afford them.
  In addition to her work within health care, Ms. Henry has also been 
vigilant in the fight for civil rights. She marched by the side of 
Doctor King and has had a large part in the building of the Christian 
Action Ministry which has served so many people on the west side of 
Chicago. She is an active member of the NAACP, the Mothers of World War 
II, and the Urban League.
  ``Ma'' Henry has already been recognized for her work by many others. 
The city of Chicago Department on Aging and Disability has honored her, 
as has Daniel Hale Williams University which presented her with a 
bachelor's degree in life experience for her outstanding civil service. 
She has been named a Distinguished Woman of Chicago as well as a Wise 
Older Woman. She is all of these things and more.
  It was Ms. Henry's actions throughout 35 years on the board of both 
Bethany Brethren Hospital and EHS Bethany Hospital that make Bethany 
what it is now, serving over 80,000 people each year through direct 
medical care, community wellness, and outpatient services. Four years 
ago, when State funding for Medicaid was cut, she again helped bring 
Bethany Hospital back with fundraising and community outreach. As a 
symbol of their thanks, Bethany Hospital has named their family health 
center after Ms. Mary Alice Henry to commemorate all of the work that 
she has done for them.
  ``Ma'' Henry is fond of saying: ``I help all those in need regardless 
of race, creed, or color,'' and this does her great credit. I have 
often said that it is of the greatest importance that we reject all of 
the ``isms'' which stand to get in our way; the racism, sexism, and 
classism. It is only when these barriers are discarded that we are able 
to get anything done and it is clear that ``Ma'' Henry has gotten a 
great deal done. I just hope that we are able to follow the good 
example that she has been setting for the last 35 years.

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