[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 9, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H2737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 EDDIE MAE STEWARD POST OFFICE BUILDING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and a 
mix of sadness that I come to the floor today to speak on the 
designation of the post office located at 1601-1 Main Street in 
Jacksonville, Florida, as the Eddie Mae Steward Post Office Building.
  I am saddened because of the untimely passing of Eddie Mae Steward as 
a result of heart disease and the sense of emptiness it imposed on her 
friends in the community and her family.
  In Jacksonville, Florida, she is best known as a mother, a friend, a 
leader, a fighter, and an activist. But, most important, she is known 
as one who would never shy away from a fight against social injustice.
  Eddie Mae Steward single-handedly led the fight for desegregation of 
the Duval County school system, initiating the lawsuit that led to the 
court ordered desegregation of the school system. She was a tireless 
advocate for most of our citizens and, in particular, our children.
  Much like Dr. King and other leaders of the Civil Rights era, she too 
was labeled as a troublemaker and paid dearly for her activities.
  Eddie Mae Steward spoke out in 1967 about the school board's decision 
to send 268 African American children to a condemned, run-down 
building. Mrs. Steward served on the board for the northeast Florida 
Community Action Agency and was a member of the State Housing Council 
and State Bi-racial Monitoring Committee for Higher Education. She also 
served on numerous community-oriented groups.
  True to Mrs. Steward's character, her neighbors said of her, ``If 
there were more people like her, we would have a better community.'' 
She was a woman of unquestionable integrity who believed in equal 
justice and equal opportunity.
  Eddie Mae Steward's passing is Jacksonville's loss, which is why I am 
delighted to honor her memory by designating the post office in her 
name.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that the Florida Delegation support this effort by 
signing on to my letter, which I will begin circulating early next 
week.

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