[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 170 (Friday, November 21, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S15404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE REVEREND DR. AVERY ALDRIDGE

 Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, I want to call my colleagues' 
attention to the loss of one of the most influential civic and 
religious leaders in Flint, MI, Dr. Avery Aldridge, who passed away at 
the age of 78 on November 1, 2003. He is greatly mourned by his wife 
and family, his church community, and people in my home State of 
Michigan who knew and loved him as a man of great faith, devoted to his 
family, and a voice for justice and equality in the African American 
community.
  Dr. Aldridge was born in Widener, AR on February 9, 1925, the fourth 
of nine children. He completed his secondary education in Memphis, TN, 
and from there was inducted in the Army in 1943. He served as a 
Sergeant during World War II, defending the cause of freedom for his 
country until his honorable discharge in 1946. He then settled in 
Flint, MI where he married Mildred Light and had two children, Karen 
and Derrick. Dr. Aldridge and his wife were dedicated members of 
Antioch Baptist Church where he served as General Superintendent of the 
Sunday School and was later ordained into the ministry.
  In December, 1956, Dr. Aldridge founded Foss Avenue Missionary 
Baptist Church with his wife, Mildred, and two others. The church has 
grown through the years to a congregation of two thousand families, 
with 50 auxiliaries and committees, an elementary and secondary school, 
a credit union, an activity center and a free clothing center. Dr. 
Aldridge also led Foss Avenue to initiate a small business center to 
train youth for employment, provide food baskets to those in need, 
organize a prison ministry and annually provide Thanksgiving Day dinner 
to all incarcerated in the Genessee County Jail. Dr. Aldridge's vision 
and leadership also supported four missionaries to Africa, and led to 
the founding of Concerned Pastors for Social Action (CPSA), the CPSA 
Courier, a weekly community and religious publication, and Faith Access 
to Community Economic Development (FACED), a community development 
organization.
  Dr. Aldridge was a lifelong learner and furthered his education at 
Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and the University of Michigan-Flint. 
He believed strongly in the value of education and supported black 
colleges across the country, as well as scholarships for local youth. 
Because of his work, he was awarded several honorary degrees through 
the years.
  Dr. Avery was committed to serving the needs of people and improving 
the quality of community life. He rose to prominence in Flint during 
the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and was a calming influence in 
the city during tensions in the wake of the Detroit riots in 1967. He 
became known as ``The Rights Activist,'' serving on local, State, and 
national commissions, including the Flint Human Relations Commission, 
the Flint Housing Commission, the Michigan AIDS Policy Commission, and 
the National Holiday for Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission.
  I know my colleagues join me in paying tribute to the life and 
ministry of Reverend Dr. Avery Aldridge who will be missed by the many 
people whose lives he touched. I hope his family takes comfort in 
knowing that his legacy will stand as an inspiration for generations to 
come.

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