[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 149 (Thursday, October 28, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN MEMORY OF MELISSA EMERY LANIER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 28, 1999

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory 
of Melissa Emery Lanier, a dear friend, community leader and 
constituent who passed away yesterday.
  Melissa brought extraordinary warmth and grace to everyone and 
everything she touched. Known for the groups, individuals and causes 
she helped, she was active in numerous organizations as diverse as the 
College of Mount St. Joseph, the Caracole AIDS Hospice, the Fine Arts 
Fund, the Taft Museum, the American Negro Spiritual Festival, Hebrew 
Union College Academy for Interfaith Studies, the Babies Milk Fund 
Association, Xavier University, Stepping Stones Center for the 
Handicapped, the Council on Aging, and the May Festival.
  She has been described as inclusive, perceptive, generous, effective, 
caring and gracious. And she was well known for seeking recognition for 
everyone but herself.
  Melissa Lanier was a Cincinnati native. Her family has deep roots in 
our city and a strong tradition of community service. This is the 
legacy she continued.
  She attended Bryn Mawr College, and earned her bachelor's and 
master's degrees from Xavier University in Cincinnati.
  She was devoted to her loving family, and is survived by her husband, 
Addison, a daughter, Melissa Murphy, three sons, Addison II, John, and 
Mark, and eleven grandchildren. They have suffered a great loss. 
Indeed, all of us in the Greater Cincinnati area have suffered a loss 
with Melissa Lanier's passing, just as all of us benefited so from her 
rich and full life.

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