[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 39 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E406-E407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING FREDDIE HAMILTON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 11, 1999

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Freddie Hamilton, for 
her tremendous contributions to the Brooklyn community and her 
exemplary community service.
  As a native of New Orleans, LA, Freddie Hamilton has lived and worked 
in Central Brooklyn for almost 40 years. Over the years, Freddie has 
participated in numerous civic and political organizations and causes 
to improve the quality of life for children and families in her 
community.
  Ms. Hamilton is the founding executive director of the Child 
development Support Corporation, a child welfare agency in Bedford-
Stuyvesant. The agency employs 150 people and provides a range of 
social services to over 3,000 children and families annually.
  After losing a 17-year-old son, as a result of gun violence, Ms. 
Hamilton became a founding member of Parents United to Rally for Gun 
Violence Elimination (PURGE). The organization was created to address 
the issues of gun violence among African American youth. Ms. Hamilton 
was successful plaintiff in the first class action strict liability 
suit against gun manufacturers.
  Since 1994, Freddie has served as the elected Democratic 
Committeewoman (District Leader) for the 57th Assembly District in 
Brooklyn.
  During a recent trip to Ghana, Freddie was honored in a traditional 
``Enstoolment Ceremony'' to designate her a Queen Mother. She

[[Page E407]]

was given the name Nana Yaa Serwaa II and she is now an official elder 
of the township of Pankese in Ghana, West Africa. She and her husband, 
Johnnie Ray, have six children and they are the proud grandparents of 
five grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in saluting Freddie Hamilton for her 
dedication to her family and her community.

                          ____________________