[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E11]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MARK TOLBERT, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 3, 2001

  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Mark Tolbert, Jr., a young man fatally injured in an automobile 
accident December 22. Affectionately known as ``Marky,'' he was the 
oldest son of Bishop Mark Tolbert, Sr. and Mrs. Emelda Tolbert, pastor 
and First Lady of Christ Temple Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Marky 
was taken to heaven by a ``chariot of fire'' one month past his 
nineteenth birthday. Although Marky left us at a young age, he led a 
remarkable and inspiring life.
  He had recently completed his first semester of college at the 
University of Kansas in Lawrence, majoring in Business Administration. 
He was looking forward to working during the semester break at a local 
sporting goods store, continuing the work ethic he developed at an 
early age by working after school and during the summer.
  Marky had a genuine love for people, especially children. He coached 
an after school basketball team at Faxon Montessori School that went 
undefeated for two years. He was a tutor at the Lee A. Tolbert 
Community Academy Saturday School and by his counseling, guidance, and 
initiative served as a role model to the youth of our community. With 
his strong work ethic and love of God and family he was destined to 
make the world a better place.
  Before Marky could walk, he was involved in Christ Temple Church, 
beginning by making ``joyful noises'' on the drums. He further 
developed his musical talents over the years and played the keyboard at 
Sunday morning services even during his first semester of college. He 
helped serve the homeless during the church's annual ``Feed he 
Multitude'' ministry. He was President of the New Generation Choir and 
a member of the Sunday School. Marky was a founding member of the 
Radical Praise Steppers, a group of youth who showed praise to their 
heavenly Father through dance routines that encompassed clapping, 
stepping and stomping in unison while singing praises to God. They 
performed at church, district councils, national conventions and 
community events.
  I attended his funeral December 30 with over 800 people. So many 
mourners came that the overflow of almost 300 people had to be 
accommodated in the church basement to watch the service on large 
screen television. Senior Pentecostal Ministers from around the country 
spoke in praise of Marky's life and legacy. The eulogy was performed by 
a family friend, Bishop Norman L. Wagner, President of the Pentecostal 
Assemblies of the World. Bishop Wagner delivered a powerful, uplifting 
sermon from the Second Book of Kings of the Bible. He compared Marky 
with the prophet Elisha and ended his sermon by stating that ``God had 
to send a chariot of fire to take him out.'' Those in the congregation 
as well as the grieving family felt their hearts lifted from sorrow to 
joy knowing that Marky's greatness would not be diminished by death.
  Marky's memory will live on in all those whose lives he has touched. 
His is a loss felt by his family and congregration, and the greater 
Kansas City community. Marky's beacon of light may be extinguished here 
on earth, but it glows brightly in heaven.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in expressing condolence to the Tolbert 
family for the loss of this very special child, and to paying tribute 
to the service he gave to family friends, church and community during 
his 19 years on this earth.

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