[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 135 (Saturday, November 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DEATH OF CHARLES W. CHERRY, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, November 20, 2004

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy 
heart to pay my respects to Charles W. Cherry.
  I was extremely saddened upon hearing the news of the death of Mr. 
Charles Cherry. I knew Mr. Cherry since my days at college, and fondly 
remember him as an outstanding civil rights advocate, and a fighter for 
the civil rights of the African American community. Mr. Cherry was, 
most of all, an extremely effective community leader, and always stood 
up for the poor and the underprivileged, even in the most adverse 
circumstances.
  On a biographical note, I think it is important to recognize that 
Charles and his family were the founders of the Daytona Times, an 
influential weekly African American community newspaper, and a Member 
of The City Council. Additionally, Mr. Cherry should also be recognized 
as being only the second African-American student to receive both a 
Juris Doctor and an MBA from The University of Florida.
  He was an activist and an entrepreneur who fervently believed that 
underprivileged communities thrive when offered economic opportunity.
  He moved to Daytona Beach in 1952 and became active in the civil 
rights movement, participating in sit-ins and other efforts in the 
1960s to bring about integration.
  He became president of the Volusia County branch of the NAACP in 
1971, was president of the State of Florida NAACP from 1974 to 1984, 
and later headed the local chapter again. He served on the NAACP's 
national board for 12 years starting in 1977.
  All Floridians are grateful for the leadership he provided and will 
miss his presence and persistence when it came to the issues he 
championed.
  I will miss him dearly, and his family will remain in my thoughts and 
prayers.

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