[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 87 (Thursday, June 29, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H4893-H4894]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING MRS. FRANCIS MARY McHIE RAINS

  (Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
life and distinguished career of Francis Mary McHie Rains for her 
important contributions to society, especially women and African 
Americans. Ms. McHie Rains, the eldest of three children, was born to 
John and Hermina McHie in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 29, 1911. 
After high school she attempted to enroll at the University of 
Minnesota School of Nursing, but she was denied admission because of 
her color. Ms. McHie Rains successfully petitioned the legislature to 
become one of the first African-American women to be accepted to the 
school and she graduated in 1932.
  Ms. McHie Rains was a pioneer. She became the first African American 
employed at two major Midwestern hospitals before serving as assistant 
to the director of the School of Nursing at Meharry Medical College in 
Nashville where she met her future husband, Dr. Horace Rains. The 
couple married and

[[Page H4894]]

had two children before moving to California, where they established a 
family medical practice in my district of Long Beach.
  In 1953 Mrs. Rains became the first African American woman to teach 
at the School of Nursing for the University of Southern California's 
general hospital.
  Mrs. Rains also served as a board member of the Long Beach Children's 
Psychiatric Clinic, the National Council of Negro Women, and the NAACP.
  She was an involved member of Grant AME Church for nearly 50 years, 
as well as a Sunday school teacher.
  During her retirement, she served as the Chair of the Long Beach 
Community Improvement League.
  Mrs. Francis Mary McHie Rains passed away on May 21, 2006 at the age 
of 95 in Long Beach, California. I proudly recognize Francis Mary McHie 
Rains, a woman whose faith, wisdom and courage became her legacy.
  I rise today to recognize the long and distinguished career of 
Francis Mary McHie Rains for her important contributions to society, 
especially women and African Americans. Mrs. McHie Rains, the eldest of 
3 children was born to John and Hermina McHie in Minneapolis, 
Minnesota, on January 29, 1911. After high school, she attempted to 
enroll at the University of Minnesota's School of Nursing, but she was 
denied admission because of her color. With the help of a State Senator 
and a local African-American activist and businesswoman, Mrs. McHie 
Rains successfully petitioned the legislature to become one of the 
first African-American women to be accepted to the University of 
Minnesota's School of Nursing and the first African American to 
graduate from the university in 1932.
  Mrs. McHie Rains was a pioneer, as a young professional she became 
the first African American employed at the Minneapolis General Hospital 
where she served as a superior, and at the Herman Keifer Hospital in 
Detroit, Michigan where she was one of the 12 women who broke the color 
barrier at the hospital. While serving as Associate Professor and 
assistant to the Director of the School of Nursing at Meharry Medical 
College, Nashville, Tennessee, she met her future husband, Dr. Horace 
Rains. The couple married and had 2 children. They later moved to 
southern California where together they established a family medical 
practice in Long Beach.
  In 1953, Mrs. Rains became the first African American woman to teach 
at the School of Nursing for the University of Southern California 
General Hospital in Los Angeles, and later became a real estate broker 
in 1972 and was the owner of a Century 21 franchise. Mrs. Rains served 
diligently as board member of the Long Beach Children's Psychiatric 
Clinic, the National Council of Negro Women, and the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP. She was an 
involved and long time member of Grant AME Church for nearly 50 years, 
as well as a Sunday school teacher. During her retirement she served as 
a Chair of the Board of the Long Beach Community Improvement League.

  Mrs. Francis Mary McHie Rains passed away on May 21, 2006 at the age 
of 95 at Windsor Gardens Convalescent Center of Long Beach, California. 
She leaves to cherish her memory one son, Anthony J. Rains, M.D. of 
Renton, Washington; a daughter, Kimberly Kerns of Houston, Texas; and 2 
grandchildren; one great-grandson; and a host of relatives and friends.
  Mrs. Rains was a woman of many firsts; she was a trailblazer and 
loyal servant. Those who knew and loved her will always remember her 
dedication to excellence and progress in her community, and as loyal 
and dedicated constituent of my district, I am very proud to be able to 
remember and celebrate her life as a part of my community.
  I join with her children, family and friends in tribute to this good 
and faithful servant who has gone home, leaving us to humbly 
acknowledge the living legacy of a great educator, mentor and abundant 
love evident in the lives of all those she has touched. I proudly 
recognize Francis Mary McHie Rains, a woman of faith, courage, 
dedication, persistence, understanding and wisdom, for her career 
accomplishments over a span of 70 years as a pioneer and her 
contributions of service in caring for the people of our community, our 
Nation and the world.

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