[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 32 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PAYING TRIBUTE TO E.M. KNIGHT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 1997

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to 
Deacon E.M. Knight, Sr., a country boy from Odenberg, LA, born in 1912, 
a great community leader whose recent passing will leave a great void 
in the 18th Congressional District and the city of Houston. Deacon 
Knight moved to Texas after completing high school.
  He had been a faithful member of South Park Baptist Church since 
1976. He was the first black person chosen to be chairman of the 
Deacon's Board for 3 consecutive years. Prior to his service as deacon 
at South Park Baptist, he served as a deacon at East Macedonia Baptist 
Church.
  Ellis M. Knight was married to Elease Jamison for 37 years until her 
death. He is survived by three sons; Ellis III, Ronald, and Alan Wayne. 
He also has two grandchildren; Sharmane and Andre Knight. His two 
living sisters are Mary Harris and Loys Davis Gatterson. He was married 
to Janet Jackson in 1988.
  Deacon Knight's life was in constant motion. He was the product of a 
long lifeline. His mother missed the mark of 100 years of age by only 3 
weeks. His lifeline provided him many memorable experiences. He served 
4 years in the military, took many business and professional courses, 
and had many challenging jobs, including 37\1/2\ years as a union 
representative and worked with Southern Pacific Railroad.
  E.M. Knight fostered black empowerment through his participation with 
the NAACP and voter registration efforts. He served on committees with 
local, State, and national elected officials and officers. Through 
these political involvements he had the opportunity to meet past 
Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Carter. He served on various boards. 
Among them was the Gulf Coast Community Services Board of Directors as 
Chair for 6\1/2\ years. During his lifetime membership, he served two 
terms as local branch president. Also, he served two different terms as 
president of the Harris County Council of Organizations [HCCO]. As Pct. 
240 Judge he served on the Democratic Executive Committee since 1988.
  Deacon Knight was also privileged to have extensively traveled. In 
the military he visited the Philippines, Australia, and parts of Asia. 
His travel with South Park Baptist Church on mission trips took him to 
Belize, Panama, San Andres Island, and Colombia.
  Deacon Knight was quite enthusiastic. His drive came from his stated 
desire to help people less fortunate than himself. One of his favorite 
Scriptures, Matthew 25:35, says: ``For I was hungry, and you gave me 
meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye 
took me in.'' He edifies this verse through his church and community 
service. He participated in community civic clubs and was chairman of 
the Harris County Hospital District's Martin Luther King Advisory 
Board. He also served as chairman of the South Park Baptist Church Food 
Ministry and creator and chairman of the South Park Church Community 
Service Center. He expressed a special love for the Church's Family 
Life Center. He was the Chairperson of the Together We Build financial 
drive to raise funds for the building of the FLC. Another special 
interest was the jail ministry which he was interested in implementing.
  E.M. Knight best summarized his life this way: ``I am blessed. 
Sometimes I'm sick, but I'm not tired. I feel the Lord is not finished 
with me yet.'' He kept this spirit until the very end and I am honored 
to have known and had as a friend Deacon E.M. Knight, Sr.
  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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