[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUELLA POWELL KOONCE

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                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 1999

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, this weekend Mrs. Luella Powell Koonce will 
be joined by family and friends to celebrate her 90th birthday. 
Birthdays are perfect occasions for reflexion. Mrs. Koonce's life has 
been fruitful and she has much of which to be proud. She has many 
names--Mother, Mom-in-Law, Granny, Aunt Tee, and Cousin Lou. She is the 
eldest living member of the Powell-Hutchins-Koonce families and has 
more than 100 living relatives.
  As you can imagine, a woman with so many relations must have a busy 
life. She is known as a counselor, professional seamstress, good cook, 
baby sitter, family banker and hot line monitor for her church and 
neighborhood. Luella Koonce was born 90 years ago on a farm in Blakely, 
Georgia. She was one of the four children of James and Elizabeth 
Hutchins Powell. After the family moved to Dothan, Alabama, she met and 
married Early Koonce and they subsequently moved their family of three 
children to Newark, New Jersey and eventually to East Orange, New 
Jersey.
  Family unity, independence and moral values have always been 
emphasized in her family and she has passed those and other cultural 
traditions down to her children and grandchildren. In the early 1940s, 
she joined St. Paul AME Church in East Orange. She has remained a 
faithful member since that time. During her membership, she has devoted 
her attention to the Pastor's Aide Club, Missionary Society, and 
Georgia Circle. A firm believer that ``prayer changes things,'' she has 
made a believer out of many of her relatives.
  While she is proud and boastful of the accomplishments of her 
children-- Willie, my successful barber; Evelyn, a retired teacher/
librarian; and Mary, a member of the East Orange City Council; she is 
always quick to remind them to remember where they came from and not 
get ``too big for their britches.'' Her nine grandchildren have 
profited from her inspired motivational talks using the Prodigal Son as 
her text to teach the value of love. As a teenager, I remember visiting 
the Koonce home. It was a place that always seemed to have young people 
around. I am sure that was because we all had a tremendous amount of 
respect for Mrs. Koonce. She instilled values in all of us, not just 
her children. She always seemed to extend herself.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in sending Mrs. Koonce our 
best wishes for a wonderful birthday.

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