[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 45 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E525]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING ROSEMARIE FLORENCE FREENEY HARDING

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 2, 2004

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Lois 
Capps, to honor the legacy of Rosemarie Harding, a mother, counselor, 
social worker, and teacher. On March 1, 2004, Rose departed at the age 
of 73, surrounded by loved ones who prayed and sang her passage to the 
other side.
  Rosemarie Florence Freeney Harding was born July 24, 1930 to Dock 
Freeney, Jr. and Ella Lee Harris Freeney. She was the youngest of nine 
siblings, a sweet and keenly intuitive child who was deeply loved. 
After graduating from high school, she spent two years at Chicago 
Teachers College. In 1955, Rose graduated from Goshen College in 
Indiana with a major in sociology.
  After completing her bachelor's degree, Rose returned to Chicago and 
worked as a social worker and teacher, during which time she served 
Bethel Mennonite Church as a lay counselor. In 1959 she met Vincent 
Harding at a church conference. Rosemarie and Vincent married in 1960 
and moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1961 as representatives of the 
Mennonite Central Committee. There, they opened up their home as the 
South's first interracial voluntary service center, Mennonite House. 
This was an important gathering place for Civil Rights activists, who 
found respite, hospitality, encouragement and stimulating dialogue.
  After her children were born, Rosemarie worked as a substitute 
teacher and helped found the city's first interracial preschool as well 
as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community School, one of Atlanta's 
earliest independent black day schools. She also helped found the 
Guardians, an advocacy group dedicated to ensuring black parents a 
voice in the desegregation of Atlanta public schools. In 1974, 
Rosemarie and her family moved to Philadelphia where she continued her 
involvement in progressive political activism and helped raise several 
grandnieces and nephews. In 1978, she earned a masters degree in 
history and women's studies at Goddard College. Rosemarie also served 
in various volunteer capacities at the American Friends Service 
Committee and traveled to Brazil in 1980 to evaluate the organization's 
support for faith-based social justice initiatives.
  From 1979 to 1981 Rosemarie worked at the Pendle Hill Quaker Study, 
where she and her husband developed a series of courses on spirituality 
and social justice. When the couple moved to Denver in 1981, Rosemarie 
continued to co-teach these courses with Vincent at the Iliff School of 
Theology. Increasingly, the couple traveled throughout the U.S. and 
internationally, conducting workshops, giving lectures, and sharing 
insights with educators, activists, religious leaders, and others. 
After receiving a masters degree in social work, Rosemarie worked for 
the Family Crisis Center in Denver. She treated colleagues and clients 
with great respect and often found gentle and creative ways to resolve 
even the most intransigent conflicts.
  As the first member of her family to finish college, Rosemarie was a 
mentor and example to all of her nieces and nephews; always assisting 
and encouraging them. She helped with homework, shared her love for 
writing and reading, and provided opportunities for her younger 
relatives to travel and broaden their horizons. She was the mediator in 
the family--the one who, in the midst of tensions or arguments, could 
calm the storm. She didn't teach by dictate, but by example. She also 
loved to laugh and dance and was most happy when those around her were 
also enjoying themselves.
  She leaves many to mourn her death and to celebrate her life: 
Vincent, her husband of 43 years; Rachel, her daughter; Jonathan, her 
son; her adopted son, Geshe Thupten Kunsang; her sisters Alma Campbell, 
Mildred Dozier and Sue Verrett; her nieces and nephews Louis, Maxine, 
Frank, Robert, Lottie, Carmen, Thomas, Francetta, Nataleen, Eileen, 
Anita, Tommy, Donna, Jimmy, James, Jean, Gloria, Phillip, Rose, JoAnn, 
Harvey, Walter, Felicia and Claude; and a host of other dearly beloved 
relatives and friends.
  I take great pride in joining Rosemarie's family and colleagues to 
salute the extraordinary Rosemarie Harding. I want to thank her on 
behalf of the entire 9th Congressional District for her great heart and 
generous soul. She has been a friend who has shared her wisdom and has 
given me support.

                          ____________________