[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2582-E2583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REVEREND DR. FRED L. MAXWELL, PATRIARCH OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP IN 
           CENTRAL FLORIDA, AUGUST 2, 1907-DECEMBER 13, 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2005

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as a pastor at St. John 
Missionary Baptist Church in Orlando in the Third Congressional 
District of Florida and an advocate for poor and homeless people in 
Central Florida, it was in the early 1990's that Rev. Maxwell founded 
the Grand Avenue Economic Development Corporation. Then, in 1994, due 
to the tremendous and continually increasing need for permanent housing 
opportunities for the homeless in the community, Maxwell with the aid 
of ``his Member of Congress'' Congresswoman Corrine Brown, led an 
effort to apply for grant funding from the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development to create permanent housing for single, disabled 
homeless persons, a group rarely assisted. The effort was successful 
and the organization was awarded $4,800,000 to create 100 units of 
permanent single room occupancy housing.
  As a community advocate, economic development pioneer, and spiritual 
leader, Rev. Maxwell worked as a catalyst for change for more than a 
decade to bridge the gap between the rich and poor and black and white 
communities in Central Florida.
  In addition to his public sector work, Rev. Maxwell was an author, 
``Where Is Thy Brother,'' a book of his sermons; a radio pastor for 22 
years; started a community credit union; construction development 
company; tax preparation business; transportation company; citrus 
business, and even appeared in commercials promoting Florida orange 
Juice.
  Rev. Maxwell received the divine call to the ministry in 1926 at the 
age of 19, but it took him 20 years to heed the call in 1946. In 1950 
he became the pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church, one of the oldest 
Black churches in Orlando, and at the same time serving as pastor of 
Shiloh Baptist Church in Alachua, also know as one of the oldest Black 
churches in Alachua County. In 1964 he was called to pastor at St. John 
Missionary Baptist Church located on Carter Street in the City of 
Orlando. In 1971, he organized the purchase of St. John's current 
location at 2025 West Central Boulevard, Orlando.
  In the early 1980's many poor and homeless people were affected by 
major winter storms in Central Florida and Pastor Maxwell used the 
church's fellowship hall to provide food, shelter and clothing to 
people with no homes. It was at this time he became an advocate for the 
homeless and prayed, ``Lord, let your will be done. I desire to do 
something to make conditions better for some homeless people, Lord, 
teach me, lead me, and guide me.''
  Maxwell retired as Senior Pastor of St. John Missionary Church in 
2001, but never from the ministry and stated, ``Retired, but not 
slacked up one bit.''

               [From the Orlando Sentinel, Dec. 14, 2005]

                  Revered Minister, Mentor Dies at 98

                           (By Jeff Kunerth)

       The Rev. Fred Maxwell, a man considered the father of 
     Central Florida's black preachers, died Tuesday. He was 98.
       Maxwell, who served as pastor of St. John Missionary 
     Baptist Church for 37 years, was a civil-rights leader, 
     ardent advocate for the homeless, human history book and a 
     man so universally respected that he often was called in to 
     mediate church disputes.
       ``This was a man anyone would want to know--similar to Rosa 
     Parks to me. The Reverend Maxwell had that kind of 
     presence,'' Orlando City Commissioner Daisy Lynum said. ``You 
     are talking about an icon.''
       To ministers such as the Rev. Randolph Bracy of New 
     Covenant Baptist Church of Orlando, Maxwell was a mentor who 
     encouraged them, and helped resolve the problems that arise 
     with pastoring.
       ``He knew how to bring calm to a very raucous situation. He 
     had a special gift that way,'' Bracy said. ``I have lost a 
     dear friend. I have lost a mentor.''
       Orange County Commissioner Homer Hartage remembers Maxwell 
     as a tireless advocate for the homeless.
       Maxwell was instrumental in securing a $4.8 million federal 
     grant to convert a former motel on Colonial Drive and John 
     Young Parkway into a 127-unit rental complex for the homeless 
     that became known as Maxwell Terrace.
       But he didn't stop there. When Maxwell came to Hartage 
     seeking support for another motel conversion on South Orange 
     Blossom Trail, Hartage turned him down--four times. 
     Maxwell kept coming back until Hartage finally relented.
       Two years later, Hartage had a cousin who got out of prison 
     and needed a place to transition back into society. He found 
     an apartment at Maxwell Gardens on South Orange Blossom 
     Trail.
       ``He ended up living in the same place I had problems 
     approving,'' Hartage said.
       Maxwell, who used a wheelchair, was still active and alert, 
     working on a land deal in Maitland just a few months ago, 
     Hartage said.
       ``He was still strong, and he was still able,'' Hartage 
     said. ``You really, in your heart, wanted to see him around 
     forever. You just expect him to be there.''
       Eatonville Mayor Anthony Grant called for a moment of 
     silence at a Town Council meeting Tuesday night to honor 
     Maxwell.
       ``He stood up for everything that was right. We have lost a 
     good leader,'' said Ella Dinkins, 87, a volunteer at the Zora 
     Neale Hurston Museum.
       Born in Williston on Aug. 2, 1907, Maxwell grew up in Lake 
     County as the son of turpentine industry workers.
       He said he first heard the calling to the ministry when he 
     was 19 but rejected it. He worked as a carpenter, grew citrus 
     and started a janitorial business.

[[Page E2583]]

       Decades later, when he finally answered the calling, he was 
     the father of six children.
       Maxwell preached throughout Central Florida. He became 
     minister of Orlando's St. John Missionary Baptist in 1964 and 
     remained there until 2001.
       A man who left school in the third grade, Maxwell obtained 
     his high-school diploma later in life and would become known 
     for his intellect and eloquence. That was his entry into the 
     worlds of the humble and the mighty.
       ``He was not pretentious, even though he was very 
     intelligent, very capable,'' Lynum said.
       ``He is going to be remembered as an advocate, but not just 
     for the homeless. He worked in the community unselfishly.''
       Maxwell's life spanned the Ocoee race riot of 1920 to the 
     civil-rights struggles of the 1960s to the election of blacks 
     to public office.
       And he remembered it all until the end.
       ``He was just a rich repository of African-American history 
     in Central Florida,'' Bracy said. ``He was a living legacy.''

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