[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 26, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H10837-H10838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            ON THE PASSING OF JAMES ALEXANDER FORBES, SENIOR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a man that really 
has made a difference in this Nation, James Alexander Forbes, Senior, a 
minister who passed away just recently. The funeral was yesterday.
  He had eight children. Of course, he educated all of his eight 
children. They received at least a masters's degree, and four of the 
eight children have doctor's degrees. He did this at the same time he 
was in school himself. He went to school with his three children that 
were in college, and he was in college right along with them. Of 
course, it shows us his commitment to education. He was not able to 
start out early in life, so therefore he felt it was important to get 
an education and to encourage his children, as well. He was a man who 
truly pulled himself up by his bootstraps.
  When we look at his family in terms of what the children were able to 
accomplish, we look at the pastor of Riverside Church, Dr. James 
Alexander Forbes, Junior, one of the children, of course, and then we 
have David Forbes, who is one of the outstanding ministers in the State 
of North Carolina, and then, of course, we have another daughter that 
is a lawyer here and working in HUD, and then we have several that are 
in education, and another son that is a psychiatrist practicing in 
Richmond, Virginia, it goes to show us in terms of the fact that if we 
are committed, the kind of things we can do. The Forbes family has 
demonstrated that in a very eloquent fashion.
  I also think about how he touched lives. When we talk to people who 
walk

[[Page H10838]]

the street, they will tell us how Dr. James Alexander Forbes, Senior, 
was able to motivate people. Young people would just sort of come and 
spend time with him, because he had so much to offer.
  I am certain that in his homegoing, that many people wanted to say 
things and wanted to be part of the ceremony, but were not able to be 
part of that ceremony because of the fact that he was such a special 
person.
  I remember from my early years, in terms of dealing with him, how he 
always wanted you to have all the facts, wanted you to have all the 
information. If you decided to talk to him, if you were not prepared, 
he would tell you to go away and come back after you have collected all 
the data.
  So I would say to the family and to all the friends of Dr. James 
Alexander Forbes, Senior, here is a man who has really made a 
difference in the lives of people. As much as he is gone now, think of 
the fact that he has touched so many lives, and the people that he has 
touched. I am certain that he will continue to live through those 
people that he trained, through those people that he was able to help, 
through those people that he counseled. I think that will make a 
difference in terms of their lives as well.
  In closing, let me just say to the family that, sure, they are going 
to miss their dad, their granddad, their uncle, and of course, brother, 
all of that, and friend. But I think we need to just, at this moment in 
time, think about the contributions that he has made. I am certain that 
the angels in heaven are probably being told by God today, step aside, 
angels, let me handle Reverend Forbes myself, because that is the kind 
of life that he lived. I think that he would say to the angels, you are 
not prepared to handle this right now.

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