[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 110 (Friday, July 30, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              OBITUARY OF MRS. ADDIE THOMASON (1896-1999)

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                        HON. SUE WILKINS MYRICK

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 1999

  Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Addie Pressley Thomason was born in 
York County, South Carolina to the late John and Katie Wilson Pressley 
on October 9, 1896. She was called to her reward on Monday, July 12, 
1999 at Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gastonia, North Carolina.
  A lifelong resident of the Gastonia metropolitan area, Addie Thomason 
was the daughter and wife of farmers. She was a witness to more than a 
century of change and progress in the area; from mule-drawn 
transportation to space flight, and from rigid segregation to a society 
more representative of the needs and aspirations of all its citizens. 
Through it all, ``Mother Addie'' was a source of support, stability, 
courage, and comfort to her family, friends, and community at large. 
She was passionately committed to education and, despite being denied 
access to a formal education during her formative years, she persevered 
in pursuing her own goal of learning to read and write by attending 
school at the age of 85--an achievement recognized by the then Governor 
of the State of North Carolina.
  During her life, ``Mother Addie'' was an avid gardener and active 
member of several area church congregations; including New Home AME 
Zion in York, South Carolina, Ebeneezer Baptist Church in Kings 
Mountain, North Carolina, and St. John Missionary Baptist Church of 
Gastonia, North Carolina. She often credited her faith in God as the 
source of her strength, determination, and longevity.
  Addie Thomason was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Thomason 
and son Fred, Jr. She leaves six loving children: Rev. John Thomason of 
Bloomfield, New Jersey; Leroy Thomason of Stanley, North Carolina; and 
Rev. Mason Thomason, Alice Ross, Lillian Thomason, and Cora Lee Hart, 
all of Gastonia, North Carolina.
  She is also survived by two loving daughters-in-law, sixteen 
grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren, and sixteen great-
great grandchildren, as well as a host of family and friends.

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