[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 81 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1110-E1111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO ROSALIE GORDON-MILLS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 14, 2004

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, it was my privilege to know Rosalie Robinson 
Gordon-Mills, a community leader and distinguished citizen of Florida's 
7th Congressional District. Her recent death is a great loss to St. 
Johns County and the State of Florida because of Mrs. Gordon-Mills' 
many contributions to our school system, civil rights, and community 
service. I join others in paying tribute to this special woman. It is 
my honor to include in the Congressional Record of the United States 
House of Representatives the rich history of her life and many 
contributions from a recently published obituary.

       Mrs. Rosalie Robinson Gordon-Mills, 96, died April 20 at 
     Flagler Hospital following complications of a collapsed lung. 
     A retired educator and counselor for 44 years with the St. 
     Johns County School System, she was head of the English 
     Department at Excelsior School and director of guidance and 
     college placement at St. Augustine High School.
       In addition to her teaching career, Mrs. Gordon-Mills was a 
     civic leader and politician, having been the first black 
     woman in 400 years to run for public office in St. Augustine, 
     for which she is currently listed in the Florida history 
     books. In 1986, she received a Presidential Award from 
     President Reagan for Private Sector Initiatives because of 
     her outstanding leadership role with the St. Augustine 
     Council on Aging in procuring the site and establishing the 
     first multipurpose senior citizen's center in St. Augustine.
       Mrs. Gordon-Mills was born in Tallahassee, to Arthur Howard 
     Robinson, owner of a dairy business, which exported dairy 
     products interstate. Her mother, Callie Eliza Ferrell, was a 
     school teacher with her own school, as was her grandmother, 
     Henrietta Robinson, the first licensed black teacher in the 
     state of Florida. In the 1920's, her parents moved to St. 
     Augustine, where her father became the head of the 
     Agriculture Division of Florida Normal College and her mother 
     became the dean of women. They came at the invitation of 
     President Collier, who had met them in Tallahassee.
       Mrs. Gordon-Mills attended the Model Laboratory School of 
     Florida A & M, where she graduated with highest honors. She 
     then realized her dream of attending college at Boston 
     University, where she majored in chemistry and physical 
     sciences. During her years at Boston University, she was a 
     member of the varsity broad jump and pole vaulting team, as 
     well as the debating team. She also pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha 
     sorority-Epsilon Chapter and was a member of The Aristos, a 
     Boston social club. She would later return to Boston 
     University and receive her master's degree in guidance and 
     counseling in 1947.
       When she returned to St. Augustine following graduation to 
     visit with her parents, she met her future husband, Dr. 
     Rudolph Nathaniel Gordon, America's first black maxillo-
     facial surgeon, who was researching a location for his 
     practice. They met at an Episcopalian Church picnic, were 
     married and were together for 25 years prior to Dr. Gordon's 
     death in 1959. Together they were a formidable force in the 
     St. Augustine community. Education and care of the children 
     of Lincolnville was a top priority. They encouraged young 
     people to attend four-year colleges and often took them to 
     college and paid their tuition. He established a free dental 
     clinic for Lincolnville children and a Boy Scout troop for 
     the boys of the community. After Dr. Gordon's death, Mrs. 
     Gordon-Mills would marry Dr. Otis J. Mills, longtime friend 
     and member of the family that owned the famous ``Iceberg'' 
     drugstore and manufactured the popular ``Smooth As Silk'' ice 
     cream. They had a wonderful 12-year relationship before he 
     succumbed to Alzheimer's disease.
       Mrs. Gordon-Mills was an enthusiastic participant in the 
     civil rights movement and supported all efforts of 
     Lincolnville to work with Dr. Martin Luther King. She also 
     befriended Mrs. Peabody, who came from Massachusetts to 
     support the movement in St. Augustine. During this time, she 
     ran for the City Council against six males and, after winning 
     the primary, finished third in the final election, making her 
     the first black woman to run for public office. She always 
     felt a strong commitment to the future of St. Augustine and 
     wanted to promote racial harmony. A member of one of 
     Florida's most illustrious families, she was a direct 
     descendant (through her maternal grandmother, Henrietta 
     Robinson) of ``The Great Antonio Proctor,'' who was born in 
     1743 and was the recipient of 185 acres in St. Augustine from 
     the Spanish Governor of Florida for his work as an 
     interpreter between the Creek Indians and the Spanish when 
     Florida was still under Spanish rule.
       Mrs. Gordon-Mills' elder years were as filled with activity 
     as her early years. A woman of intellectual brilliance, 
     impeccable character and determination, she continued to be 
     active as a lifetime member of the Board of the Council on 
     Aging; an officer of the Board of Echo House--a tutoring and 
     community center she started--and an active member of St. 
     Cyprian's Episcopal Church, where she was a member of The 
     Daughters of The King and a member of the Vestry. She was the 
     active C.E.O. of the family real estate business until the 
     week of her death, spending each day problem-solving, meeting 
     with her management crew and ensuring that her tenants and 
     her properties were well cared for. Her considerable 
     business acumen was respected by all of the business 
     people whom she encountered. (She made recent trips to 
     Tallahassee to meet with the State Historical Society to 
     present grant requests for her Echo House project).
       Her social life was equally active. As a founding member of 
     the Daytona Beach chapter of the Links, Inc., she attended 
     meetings and activities regularly and participated in their 
     many scholarship fund-raising efforts for regional students. 
     In addition, she administered the scholarship fund set up by 
     her dear, deceased friend, Mrs. Bemis, of St. Augustine, that 
     enables deserving and talented students to attend Bethune 
     Cookman College. She enjoyed the regular gatherings of the 
     Clique Club and Venetian Club, to which she had belonged for 
     many years.
       Mrs. Gordon-Mills loved her family; her daughter, Dr. 
     Carlotta Gordon Miles and her son-in-law, attorney Theodore 
     A. Miles, of Washington, D.C. (Her beloved son, Rudolph N. 
     Gordon II, predeceased her in 1967.) Her grandchildren were 
     the loves of her life and she had a special relationship with 
     each of them--Dr. Wendell Gordon Miles and Miss Lydia 
     Carlotta Miles, of Washington, D.C., and Mrs. Cecily Miles 
     Slater and her husband, Ramael Slater, of Hollywood, CA. Her 
     brother, Dr. Arthur J. Robinson, and his son, Arthur J. 
     Robinson Jr., of Palm Coast; her sister-in-law Verna C. 
     Robinson of Washington and her niece, Angela Robinson 
     Witherspoon, and her husband, John Witherspoon, of Los 
     Angeles, CA, and her nephew Elbert C. Robinson, of 
     Washington. Her first cousins, Celestine Nicks of Mandarin, 
     and Ida Mae Harrison, of Columbus, GA. Her family looked to 
     her for guidance, advice and as an example of a Christian 
     life well-lived.
       Born into a privileged family, Mrs. Gordon-Mills had a deep 
     sense of obligation to her fellow man and an unfailing 
     determination to make a difference with her life. She had a 
     deep devotion to all children, a strong sense of racial pride 
     and a commitment to the concept of ``From those to whom much 
     is given, much is expected.'' Her selflessness and generosity 
     to others was unequaled. She believed that love should be put 
     into action and faith in God is the foundation of life.
       Mrs. Gordon-Mills was fortunate in having a circle of 
     loving friends who, in the last years of her life, joined her 
     family in making these years especially joyful. W.D. McCoy, a 
     former student and ``son,'' was a devoted and concerned 
     companion; Dorothy and Rudolph Israel and Maggie and Pat 
     Patterson were ever present and supportive in whatever she 
     chose to undertake. Otis and Myrtis Mason made it possible 
     for her to continue her Links Inc. participation. Father 
     David Allert and the members of the St. Cyprian's 
     congregation admired and respected her wisdom and her 
     spirituality. Arthur Schwecke, her neighbor and ``son;'' and 
     Joe Logan and Janis Brown, her business manager, helped her 
     continue her corporate activities. Josephine Quarterman, Lena 
     Callueng and John Gilbert enabled her to continue to maintain 
     her household and lifestyle until the end.

[[Page E1111]]

     These special friends will always be remembered with 
     gratitude and deep affection by her family.

                          ____________________