[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN HONOR OF BRENDA SESSIONS COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, PROBATE COURT 
                                DIVISION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 9, 1999

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, for over 28 years, couples seeking a 
license to marry in Cuyahoga County have likely encountered Brenda 
Sessions, Judge John Donnelly's nominee. Starting as a deputy clerk, 
Brenda now supervises this important office which, in addition, to 
issuing marriage licenses, corrects birth records and assists 
genealogists seeking family documents.
  A Cleveland Heights resident and the mother of Myah, she prides 
herself in following her mother's advice to work hard, be self-
sufficient and to help others. She only regrets that her mother failed 
to teach her how to cook.
  Brenda is a life-long member of Morning Star Baptist Church and has 
been active in many of that church's programs. During her daughter's 
attendance at Christ the King School, she served on the Parent 
Executive Board. She enjoys her collection of porcelain elephants (a 
symbol of good luck), reads, listens to gospel and jazz music, attends 
movies and theatrical events, plays racquetball and rides.
  Among the many, many marriage license applications Brenda has 
prepared, with both bride and groom present, she remembers, with 
amusement, two particular instances. In one, a woman admitted to four 
prior marriages and denied the Court's apparent record of an additional 
three marriages. Her groom left, and that couple was never seen again. 
In another, a rather aged groom, accompanied by a young intended bride, 
denied the existence of a much earlier marriage which the Court's 
records revealed, but mysteriously knew the last name of the bride in 
the earlier marriage, when Brenda had only mentioned the first name.

                          ____________________