[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 6 (Tuesday, February 1, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       HONORING THOMAS C. JERVAY

                                 ______


                           HON. CHARLIE ROSE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 1, 1994

  Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I extend my deepest sympathy to the family and 
loved ones of Thomas C. Jervay. The impact of Mr. Jervay's life-long 
accomplishments are expressed most accurately in the following article 
from the Wilmington Journal, a weekly African-American Newspaper, in my 
district.

                         Jervay Leaves A Legacy

                         (By Rhonda M. Bellamy)

       Thomas C. Jervay, Sr., owner, and editor emeritus of the 
     Wilmington Journal, was eulogized as ``a media man in the 
     best tradition'' during funeral services on Friday, December 
     31, 1993. He died Tuesday, December 28, at the age of 79.
       For more than 50 years, Mr. Jervay stood at the helm of the 
     Wilmington Journal, providing a form for the black community 
     and serving as a catalyst for far reaching social, economic, 
     and political changes.
       ``Our newspaper has succeeded and prospered because we have 
     tried to be the servant of our people, and have tried to 
     fight for the human rights of all, especially blacks * * *. 
     My greatest aim and hope is to see blacks move forward 
     politically and economically. This is the bottom line, and if 
     this is not done, we are lost,'' he once said.
       It was this deeply-rooted conviction that served as the 
     springboard for many a spirited editorial and equally 
     spirited participation in causes that espoused social reform.
       Mr. Jervay was a 1932 graduate of Williston Industrial High 
     School, where he edited the Williston Echo and was the first 
     recipient of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company 
     Scholarship. The class of 1932 was the first class to 
     graduate in 11 years due to the Great Depression. He went on 
     to attend Hampton and Howard Universities, and received a 
     Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia State University. He 
     served on the newspaper staff at all three universities.
       He returned to Wilmington to work as business manager and 
     editor of the Cape Fear Journal, founded in 1927 by his 
     father, Robert S. Jervay. In 1945, he renamed the paper the 
     Wilmington Journal.
       Undaunted by the political climate or social dictates of 
     his day, Mr. Jervay ``without fear or favor'' openly decried 
     discrimination and initiated the dialogue needed to eradicate 
     it.
       ``We integrated the public library with one phone call, and 
     the city golf course by simply going out to play there one 
     day,'' he once said.
       His strong community presence did not go unnoticed. He was 
     the first North Carolinian to receive the Kellogg Celebrity 
     Tribute Award for his lifelong community service activities 
     and support of the United Negro College Fund. He was a member 
     of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, the National Publishers 
     Association (of which he served as one of its youngest 
     presidents), Amalgamated Publishers Association, Inc., North 
     Carolina Black Publishers Association (where he was 
     considered ``Dean of the Black Pages''), NAACP (where he held 
     a life membership and two Golden Heritage memberships), Who's 
     Who in Black America, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 
     the Elks, the Prince Hall Masons, United Grand Order of 
     Salem, the Professional Society of Journalists, and Sigma 
     Delta Chi.
       The impact of Mr. Jervay's lifetime commitment to 
     Wilmington, to North Carolina, and indeed to the nation were 
     very aptly described in two telegrams read at the funeral.
       ``On behalf of the National Association for the Advancement 
     of Colored People, I extend to the family of Thomas Jervay 
     our deepest sympathy and expression of support. For decades, 
     Mr. Jervay was a leading voice for freedom and justice for 
     all people in our nation and throughout the world. 
     Personally, Mr. Jervay, as the editor of the renowned 
     Wilmington Journal newspaper, helped thousands of people 
     overcome the barriers of racial discrimination. In truth, Mr. 
     Jervay was one of my mentors, a man that I admired and a man 
     that encouraged me to provide leadership in the civil rights 
     movement during those difficult days of the Wilmington Ten. 
     Mr. Jervay stood tall and raised his voice consistently for 
     justice. The NAACP pays its highest salute to Thomas C. 
     Jervay, a great freedom fighter, public servant, and a strong 
     leader in whom we all will surely miss,'' wrote Ben Chavis, 
     executive director of the NAACP.
       Those sentiments were echoed by U.S. Congresswoman Eva 
     Clayton.
       ``Mr. Thomas Jervay was a great pioneer and spokesman for 
     equality. At a time when it was unthinkable, he developed a 
     medium to voice the concerns and hopes of the average 
     citizen. His voice was clear, steady, and penetrated the 
     consciousness of many. Because of his convictions and 
     steadfast commitment for equality, many barriers were 
     eliminated . . . Members of the Congressional Black Caucus 
     also join me in conveying our sense of gratitude for his 
     services rendered to the community. He leaves a legacy for us 
     to build upon as we continue toward that great realization of 
     equality and justice for all,'' she wrote.
       His survivors include; his wife, Willie E. Jervay; two 
     daughters, Mary Alice Thatch (John) of Raleigh, and Katherine 
     ``Kitty'' Tate (Lacy) of Wilmington; six grandchildren, Robin 
     Thatch Allen, Shawn Thatch and Johanna Thatch of Raleigh, 
     Mona Jervay of Seattle, Washington, Lacy Jervay Tate and 
     Robert Jervay Tate of Wilmington; and seven great-
     grandchildren.

                          ____________________