[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 88 (Tuesday, June 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING OLEE LEWIS FOR HER SERVICE TO HENRY COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN S. TANNER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 28, 2005

  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great 
Tennessean and a dear friend of mine, Mrs. Olee Lewis of Paris, 
Tennessee. Olee recently completed her 38th year of serving our 
community at the Henry County Northwest Tennessee Economic Development 
Council.
  As a daughter of a local tobacco farmer, Olee dreamed of being a 
missionary or a nurse, and as an adult, she made her dreams come true. 
Olee received her nurse's aide certification after high school and then 
began training at National Baptist Missionary Training School in 
Nashville. She had to leave missionary school before she was finished 
but still jumped into a life of missionary work back home.
  Olee has directed the Henry County Northwest Tennessee Economic 
Development Council and has helped many people throughout her years 
there. One of Olee's greatest accomplishments is the ``Sister to Sister 
and Brother to Brother'' club, which organizes black men and women to 
meet the needs of the community. ``Sister to Sister'' has been so 
successful there is now a ``Sister to Sister II.''
  She has also found the time to organize the SHARE program, serve as 
Secretary of the Tennessee Baptist Missionary and Education Ushers 
Department, and serve as a director of many different projects in her 
local church. For her extraordinary work in the community, Olee has 
received the Personalities of the South Award, was appointed to the 
important Families First Committee and was named a Kentucky Colonel. 
Married to the late Charles Wesley Lewis, Olee has been a wonderful 
mother to four foster children and also has five grandchildren and one 
great-grandchild.
  Throughout her life, Olee has contributed much to our community, our 
state and our nation. She has never shied away from work when her 
skills and efforts were needed and could make a difference. Mr. 
Speaker, please join me as I recognize Olee's many achievements and 
contributions, and to say thanks to her for all she has done through 
the years to make the city of Paris, Henry County, and the State of 
Tennessee a better place to live.

                          ____________________