[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E225-E226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO INEZ WILLIAMS BROWN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 12, 2003

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a native 
South Carolinian whose love of family and faith in God have blessed her 
with a rich and full life. On February 20, 2003, Mrs. Inez Williams 
Brown will celebrate her 90th birthday, and in marking this important 
occasion, I believe it is important to highlight a few of the 
contributions she has made.
  Mrs. Brown, the granddaughter of slaves, was born on the Blake 
Plantation in Colleton County. Her father, Burton, was the youngest of 
five children born to Sally Prince. At an early age, he married Mamie 
Daily, and they had five children. Inez, the youngest, was born on 
February 20, 1913. Before she reached her first birthday, Inez's mother 
died in childbirth. Her father attended South Carolina Normal 
Institute. He was an ordained Baptist minister and also taught school.
  Inez met and married Willie Williams, also a minister. They began 
their lives together in Hendersonville, South Carolina, and later spent 
four years in Georgia. They settled in Charleston, South Carolina in 
1940. They had eleven children. After the death of Reverend Williams, 
Mrs. Williams raised 10 children by herself with the help of her eldest 
son, Alfred Williams and a brother-in-law, Elijah Williams. Her 
dedication to her family is reflective of the strong commitment 
exhibited by many African-American mothers.
  After all but two of her children were adults, Inez Williams married 
Mr. Ed Gadsden, who died two years later. And in 1981, she married 
Robert Brown, who passed away in 2000.
  Mrs. Brown's legacy is in the family she raised nearly on her own. 
Her eldest son, Alfred, is the Pastor of Canaan Baptist Church with a 
membership of over 800 parishioners. Mozell Myers is a retired 
schoolteacher, and a leader among ministers' wives in the A.M.E. 
Church. Luethel McNeil is an insurance professional and an ordained 
minister in New Jersey. Mildred Williams is a schoolteacher and writer 
in Oakland, California. Lelia Mae Daniels is in law enforcement in El 
Paso, Texas. Isaac ``Ike'' Williams, is a former S.C. Field Director of 
the N.A.A.C.P. and presently serves on my District Staff. Ike's twin, 
Rebecca Small, is a speech therapist in Newark, New Jersey. Bessie 
Simmons is an Executive Assistant and Director of Quality Assurance for

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Quovadx, Inc., an information technology provider for the Medical 
University of South Carolina (MUSC). She is also an internationally 
renowned poet. Gloria Edwards is a retired secretary for pediatric 
clinics at MUSC. Susie Manning is Director of Adult Treatment Services 
for Richland County Behavioral Health Center of the Midlands, LRADAC. 
The youngest, Leon Williams, is a retired Warehouse Manager for the 
Columbia, South Carolina Housing Authority.
  Mrs. Brown has been active with the NAACP, the Senior Citizens 
program in Union Heights, and an avid Voter Education and Participation 
activist. She is the Mother of her church, Canaan Missionary Baptist 
Church, where she has been a member for over 60 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in saluting this 
great woman on her 90th birthday. Her unbounded love and extraordinary 
maternal sacrifice and dedication are legendary. This granddaughter of 
slaves has demonstrated with great fervor, her commitment to her 
family, her community and her God.

                          ____________________