[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 42 (Friday, April 3, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S3236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO WILLENE EVERETT

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to a remarkable 
woman who was hailed as the ``grand dame of community action'' by her 
local paper upon her passing: Willene Everett of Meriden, Connecticut. 
Sadly, Mrs. Everett died this past summer at the age of 74.
  For 31 years, Mrs. Everett worked at the Meriden Community Action 
Agency, where she headed the Elderly Nutrition Program for 15 years and 
the children's Summer Lunch Program for 10 years. She packed a lifetime 
worth of achievement into her tenure at the Agency, but her life was 
filled with many great experiences and accomplishments before she took 
this job.
  Her job experience ranged from working as a beautician to a 
mortician. And perhaps the most noteworthy of these was her experience 
in the military, where she served in France, Germany and England during 
World War II as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army.
  But most of us in Connecticut will always associate Willene Everett 
with her work at the Community Action Center in Meriden. During her 31 
year tenure, she made countless contributions. She helped to feed 1,500 
people a day--both young and old. She also took the time to do the 
little things that brighten people's lives: sending birthday or get 
well cards to patrons of the Center, setting up a recipe exchange at 
work, traveling through snow storms to make sure that people at the 
Center had their breakfast and coffee.
  Her work extended far beyond the Senior Center. She was President of 
``The Laurel Club,'' a social club known for its charitable work and 
efforts to provide scholarship funds for young African-Americans in the 
Meriden area. She was also active in the local NAACP and YWCA.
  Her efforts did not go unrecognized. She was invited to and attended 
a White House Conference on Aging African-Americans during the Carter 
Administration. Among her awards, she received the YWCA's ``Woman in 
Leadership Award,'' the ``Woman of the Year'' by the Girls' Club, and 
the ``State of Connecticut General Assembly Award'' in recognition of 
her civic and charitable work. In addition, the dining hall at the 
Seniors Center in Meriden has been named ``Willene's Place'' and a 
scholarship fund bearing her name is being established in her honor.
  By renaming the dining hall and creating this scholarship fund, 
Willene Everett's name will carry on. But for those who knew her, there 
is no need for any form of tribute to ensure her remembrance. She was a 
caring and compassionate person, and she will never be forgotten by the 
people of Meriden, whose lives she touched and brightened.
  Willene Everett is survived by her husband Edward and her children 
JoAnn and Steven. She was a loving wife and mother, and this year would 
have actually marked her 50th wedding anniversary. She is dearly 
missed, and I offer my heartfelt condolences to her family.

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