[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 182 (Thursday, November 16, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            MILDRED CHEEK BROWN CELEBRATES HER 80TH BIRTHDAY

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                            HON. JACK FIELDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 16, 1995

  Mr. FIELDS. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment today to recognize a 
very special woman--Mildred Cheek Brown of Brandywine, MD. Mrs. Brown 
celebrated her 80th birthday on November 15, and I know you and all of 
my colleagues join with me in sending her and her family our very 
warmest wishes of friendship on her birthday.
  Four years ago, I had the opportunity to stand here on the floor of 
the House and recognize Mrs. Brown's husband, Horace F. ``Buddy'' 
Brown, on the occasion of his 80th birthday. At the time, I considered 
it a privilege to have the opportunity to recognize Mr. Brown--if only 
because he had the good sense to marry Mrs. Brown. I consider it just 
as great a privilege to bring Mrs. Brown's upcoming 80th birthday to 
the attention of my colleagues.
  Mrs. Brown was born in Hillsborough, NC, a small town located near 
Durham, one of nine children of Thomas and Electa Cheek. In 1937, Mrs. 
Brown came to the Washington, DC, area seeking employment. She rented a 
room in a boarding house and enjoyed meeting many of her neighbors. One 
neighbor in particular--``Buddy'' Brown, who maintained a room in a 
boarding house next door to the then Miss Cheek--enjoyed her company. 
After a whirlwind 2-month courtship, Miss Cheek made Mr. Brown a very 
happy man by agreeing to be his wife.
  While many marriage counselors contend that long, happy marriages are 
the result of long courtships, Mr. And Mrs. Brown might disagree. On 
October 29, they celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary--proving 
once again that we should listen more closely to our hearts, and less 
to counselors.
  Throughout most of their married life, Mrs. Brown worked as a 
homemaker--raising her three children, caring for her husband, and 
making some of the best vegetable soup, chicken and dumplings, and 
Pennsylvania Dutch filing ever to come out of a kitchen. In 1965, with 
her children grown, she went to work fulltime as a bookkeeper for 
Western Auto, a position she held until she retired in 1980.
  For a portion of her life, Mrs. Brown suffered health problems. She 
survived three bouts of tuberculosis, which required two extended stays 
at Glen Dale Santorium in addition to one prolonged recovery period at 
her home. But as anyone who knows her knows, Mrs. Brown is a tender 
women who can be tough when necessary--such as when confronting a 
threat to her health. In a battle between tuberculosis and Mrs. Brown, 
the disease didn't have a chance.
  Since her retirement, Mrs. Brown has remained extremely active in her 
church, Immanuel United Methodist, where she has served as president of 
the United Methodist Women chapter, and on many church committees. She 
has also enjoyed spending time with her husband at their home in 
Brandywine, where they have lived for the past 25 years.
  The Brown household is often the scene of many happy family 
gatherings at which several generations of family members join 
together. Those family members include Mrs. Brown's children, 
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Expected to join Mrs. Brown for 
her 80th birthday and her children: Frank Brown of Greensboro, NC, and 
his wife, Sue; Vicki Peckham of Washington, DC, and her husband, Arnold 
Levine; and Robin Bridges of Churchton, MD.
  Also expected are Mrs. Brown's grandchildren--Frank Spasoff and his 
wife Anne; Chris Brown; Vicky Hawks and her husband Brad; and Emily and 
Andrew Bridges--as well as her great-grandchildren--Nick and Drew Hawks 
and Sean Spasoff. Another great-grandson is due in January.
  Mr. Speaker, in this age when commitment is not as common as it once 
was, the 58-year marriage of Mildred and ``Buddy'' Brown remind all of 
us of its enduring value. In this age when love for others is often 
regarded as less important than love of oneself, Mrs. Brown's legacy of 
caring for her husband, her children, her extended family and her 
neighbors inspires all of us. And in this age when many proclaim that 
America's religious tradition is dying, Mrs. Brown's long and 
distinguished service to her church and its members--particularly its 
less fortunate members--proves that Christian faith and values are 
still alive and well.
  Mr. Speaker, please join with me in wishing Mrs. Mildred Cheek Brown 
of Brandywine, MD, a very happy 80th birthday and continued good 
health. And let us all wish her husband and her family many, many more 
kettles of Mrs. Brown's delicious vegetable soup.

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