[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO MARY DAVIS ON HER 108TH BIRTHDAY

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                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to pay tribute to Ms. Mary Davis, a resident of the Bronx, New York who 
will turn 108 this month. Ms. Davis is a living testimony to the 
indomitable spirit of our great nation.
  Born December 12, 1895 in Florida, Ms. Davis was the granddaughter of 
slaves, whom she still has very clear memories of. This incredible 
woman witnessed an America that almost none of us can say we truly 
knew; an America that wrestled to establish the ideals of democracy and 
freedom while continuing to oppress and terrorize those of African 
descent. However, like many African Americans of her time, Ms. Davis 
transcended that oppression and in doing so helped bring a nation 
closer to its great potential.
  The proud mother of five daughters, grandmother of 10 grandchildren 
and great grandmother of 30 great grandchildren, Ms. Davis spent most 
of her life working as a nanny and housekeeper to support her family. 
Today, she lives alone in the Bronx and is described by those close to 
her as being a lovable, God fearing woman who still attends her church, 
the Great Methodist Baptist Church of Manhattan, regularly.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Davis lived through two World Wars, the Cold War, 
Vietnam, and two wars in Iraq. She has seen 20 Presidents enter the 
White House and witnessed America's role in the world evolve from a 
non-influential nation to the most powerful nation the world has ever 
known. She was here before Henry Ford introduced the Model T, and even 
before the Wright Brothers took their famous flight in Kitty Hawk, 
North Carolina. There are only a few people on earth who can say that 
they have witnessed all of these events first hand and Ms. Davis should 
certainly be proud to be one of them.
  For her many contributions to her community and to this nation, I ask 
my colleagues to join me in honoring Ms. Mary Davis on her 108th 
birthday.

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