[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E73-E74]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A VERY FINE LADY--INDEED--A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF DR. RACHEL HANNAH 
                         CELESTINE BOONE KEITH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 11, 2007

  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, tonight I rise to pay tribute to a 
champion of humanity. Dr. Rachel Hannah Celestine Boone Keith lived an 
exemplary life, one filled with kindness and caring towards others. She 
was an exceptional woman who genuinely cared about those around her and 
was always quick to lend a helping hand. I have known Dr. Keith for 
over 40 years. She was the wife of my dear friend, Judge Damon Keith. 
Judge Keith and I have been great friends for a very long time. I 
initially met Judge Keith when he was the law partner of my brother, 
Nathan Conyers. It is with a heavy heart that I make this tribute to 
Dr. Keith who gave so generously in life; she was a wonderful person 
and physician, she acted on behalf of those who could not help 
themselves, and she advocated vociferously for the health care rights 
of the community at large, she will truly be missed.
  Rachel Hannah Celestine Boone was born on May 24, 1924, in Monrovia, 
Liberia. Her father and mother were Baptist medical missionaries who 
founded a church, ran a school, and provided medical services. She 
returned to the United States at the age of three, relocating with her 
family to Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from high school at the age 
of 13 and was the class valedictorian. Tragically, her mother died that 
same year. This loss is what prompted her to decide to become a doctor. 
After her mother's death, she relocated to Boston to live with her 
aunt, Dr. Bessie B. Tharps. Following in her aunt's footsteps, she 
attended the Boston University School of Medicine, where she attained 
the highest score ever recorded on a medical school exam.
  In 1951, she relocated to Detroit to become only the second African-
American female doctor to serve as a resident physician at the Detroit 
Receiving Hospital. It was soon after beginning her residency that she 
met Judge Keith, who was a young lawyer at the time. They were soon 
married and remained married for 53 years. My friend Damon has said of 
his wife, ``She was the sweetest woman in the world. Her life was a by-
product of how she was raised. She was very religious. She was not 
pushy or demanding. She saw her life as one of service.'' Judge Keith 
and Dr. Keith had three wonderful daughters, Cecile, Debbie, and Gilda. 
She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who taught her children 
that they were raised to live a simple life.
  Professionally, Dr. Keith gave tirelessly to her patients. She was a 
trained internist who was in private practice over 40 years. During 
that long tenure, she never turned any patient away based on their 
inability to pay.
  Though she was a strong supporter of her husband and gentle in 
demeanor, Dr. Keith was exceptionally effective as a leader in 
developing community unity, and in developing and establishing new ways 
to deliver health care. She was an early health care activist and far 
ahead of her time in understanding the importance of health care being 
universal to all.
  In addition to being a strong medical presence in the community, she 
was heavily involved in civic and social matters. She served on the 
board of over 20 medical organizations and 18 non-profit groups. She 
was also honored with numerous awards and honorary degrees. Madam 
Speaker, the world is a better place because Dr. Keith was here; she 
will be deeply missed, but her spirit and love that she shared with 
others will live on indefinitely. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent to enter the homegoing celebration program of Dr. Rachel Hannah 
Celestine Boone Keith into the Congressional Record.

                Dr. Rachel Hannah Celestine Boone Keith

       Rachel Keith was born Rachel Hannah Celestine Boone on May 
     30, 1924, in Monrovia, Liberia. Her parents, Reverends 
     Clinton C. Boone and Rachel Tharps Boone, were Baptist 
     medical missionaries. Her grandfather, Reverend Lemuel 
     Washington Boone, was a founding trustee of Shaw University. 
     Rachel came to the United States at age three and began her 
     schooling at Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School in 
     Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from Armstrong High School 
     in 1938 at the age of 13 as valedictorian of her class. That 
     same year, she lost her mother and moved with her aunt, Dr. 
     Bessie B. Tharps, to Rhode Island. In 1943, as the only 
     African-American student at Houghton College in upstate New 
     York, Rachel graduated magna cum laude and second

[[Page E74]]

     in her class. Thereafter, she completed postgraduate studies 
     in biology at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. 
     Rachel attained her medical degree from Boston University's 
     School of Medicine in 1949.
       Also in 1949, Dr. Rachel Boone was featured in a Look 
     Magazine story about Boston University's home medical service 
     and in The Boston Globe for scoring the highest ever on a 
     national board test. After completing her internship at 
     Harlem Hospital, she served at Brooklyn's Coney Island 
     Hospital before moving to Detroit in 1951. In 1953, she 
     married attorney Damon J. Keith. Dr. Keith completed a 2-year 
     residency in Internal Medicine at Detroit Receiving Hospital 
     in 1953. In 1954, she joined the staff at Detroit Memorial 
     Hospital and entered private practice. During her half 
     century of medical practice, Dr. Keith was also affiliated 
     with Burton Mercy, Detroit Riverview, Detroit Receiving, 
     Harper, Hutzel, and Sinai hospitals.
       A member of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church for 53 
     years, Rachel Keith was a deeply religious woman who lived 
     her faith. She served her family, her patients and her 
     community with dedication and tenacity. As a physician, she 
     gave every patient her full attention and complete care. She 
     was a loving and nurturing mother to her daughters, Cecile, 
     Debbie and Gilda and an exemplary role model who taught them 
     to give back and help others. Her devotion and love for her 
     husband of 53 years, Judge Damon J. Keith, was steadfast. As 
     a member of the Detroit community, she as an active 
     participant in numerous civic and social organizations, 
     always with the intent of making life better for others. She 
     was a true pioneer in the medical community, a civil rights 
     activist, a compassionate mentor and a strong advocate for 
     her patients, the poor and uninsured.
       In addition to her immediate family, Rachel Boone Keith is 
     survived by her brother, Rev. Clinton C. Boone, II, her 
     granddaughters, Nia and Camara Brown, in whom she took great 
     pride, her son-in-law, Daryle Brown, her niece and nephew, 
     Rane Boone Franklin and Rev. Clinton C. Boone III, and a host 
     of loving relatives and friends.
       Opening Hymn, ``Blessed Assurance'', Tabernacle Combined 
     Choirs.
       Scriptures: Matthew 25: 34-36, II Timothy 4:6-8, Reverend 
     Nicholas Hood, Sr., Pastor Emeritus, Plymouth United Church 
     of Christ.
       Prayer, Reverend Dr. Oscar R. Carter, Inkster Springhill 
     Baptist Church.
       Musical Selection, ``The Lord Is My Light'', Walter McLean.
       Remarks, The Honorable Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor, 
     State of Michigan, The Honorable Kwame M. Kilpatrick, Mayor, 
     City of Detroit, Dr. James Brown, Longtime Medical Partner.
       Family Tribute, Cecile Keith Brown, Daughter.
       Silent Reading Of The Obituary, Musical Selection, ``I 
     Really Love The Lord''.
       Musical Selection, ``His Eye Is On The Sparrow'', Virginia 
     Winters.
       Eulogy, Reverend Dr. Charles G. Adams, Senior Pastor, 
     Hartford Memorial Baptist Church.
       Hymn, ``Great Is Thy Faithfulness'', Congregation.
       Closing Prayer, Reverend Nathan Johnson, Senior Pastor, 
     Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.
       Recessional, ``God Be With You Till We Meet Again'', 
     Tabernacle Combined Choirs.
       Dr. Keith's medical affiliations included: American Medical 
     Association; Beaumont Hospital; Blue Care Network; Blue 
     Preferred; Comprehensive Cancer Center of Metropolitan 
     Detroit; Detroit Department of Health; Detroit 
     Gastroenterological Society; Detroit Medical Center; Detroit 
     Medical Society; DMC Care; Eastwood Clinic Chemical 
     Dependency Unit; Michigan Board of Medicine; Michigan State 
     Medical Society; National Medical Association; Omnicare; 
     Professional Plaza Health Care Center P.C.; University of 
     Michigan Hospitals, Public Advisory Board; Wayne County 
     Medical Society; Wayne State University College of Nursing; 
     and Wayne State University School of Medicine.
       Dr. Keith's civic and cultural affiliations included: 
     African American Association of Liberia; African Development 
     Fund; American Leprosy Mission; Coleman A. Young Foundation; 
     Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan; Detroit Community 
     Music School; Detroit Institute of Arts; Detroit Science 
     Center; Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Governor's Commission on 
     the Future of Higher Education; Links, Inc.--Great Lakes 
     Chapter; Mayor's Committee for the Cultural Center; Mayor's 
     Emergency Relief Committee; Metropolitan Area Service 
     Organization; NAACP--Lifetime Member; National Council of 
     Negro Women, Inc.; Top Ladies of Distinction; and World 
     Energy Conference.
       She received numerous awards including: Boston University, 
     Rebecca Lee Award; Boston University, Honorary Degree, Doctor 
     of Humane Letters; Central Michigan University, Honorary 
     Degree, Doctor of Public Service; Mary McLeod Bethune Award; 
     Sinai Hospital Recognition Award; and Zeta Phi Beta Woman of 
     the Year.
       Honorary Pallbearers: Robert and Maggie Allesee, Herman 
     Anderson, Dr. William Anderson, Hon. Dennis W. Archer, Hon. 
     Trudy Archer, Leon Atchison, Edward Bailey, Anita Baker, Don 
     and Bella Barden, Dr. and Mrs. Hiram Bell.
       Mr. and Mrs. Werten Bellamy, Sr., Dr. Lerone Bennett, Dave 
     Bing, Black Judges Association of Michigan, Alberta 
     Blackburn, Catherine Carter Blackwell, Raymond H. Boone, 
     Charles Boyce, Joe Brown, Dr. Waldo Cain.
       Dr. Benjamin A. Carson, Marvel Cheeks, Hon. Carolyn Cheeks-
     Kilpatrick, Dr. Aram V. Chobanian, Dr. June Christmas, Hon. 
     Erie L. Clay, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Pres. William 
     Jefferson Clinton, Hon. R. Guy Cole, Jr., Prof. James 
     Coleman, William Coleman, Jr.
       Pres. Mary Sue Coleman, Dr. Julius V. Combs, Congressman 
     John Conyers, Nathan Conyers, Leon Cooper, Dr. Wendell Cox, 
     Peter D. Cummings and Julie Fisher Cummings, David DiChiera, 
     Congressman John and Debbie Dingell.
       Walter E. Douglas, Eugene and Elaine Driker, Prof. Michael 
     Eric Dyson, Esther Gordy Edwards, Bishop Charles H. Ellis, 
     III, Douglas Ellman, Myrlie Evers Williams, Hon. Edward 
     Ewell, Jr., Hon. John Feikens, Oscar Feldman, Dr. Otis 
     Ferguson.
       Howard Fitts, Sylvia Flanagan, Rev. Kenneth Flowers, Edsel 
     and Cynthia Ford, Mr. and Mrs. William Clay Ford, Jr., W. 
     Frank Fountain, Aretha Franklin, Dr. John Hope Franklin, 
     Roderick G. Gillum, Dr. Holly S. Gilmer-Hill.
       Tom and Carol Goss, Thomas A. Gottschalk, Gov. Jennifer M. 
     Granholm and Daniel Mulhern, The Greater Detroit Links, 
     Forrest Green, Dr. Rosalind Griffin, Prof. Lani Guinier, 
     Elliott Hall, Ronald E. Hall, Sr.
       Mr. and Mrs. Steven H. Hamp, Carmen Harlan, Al and Kathy 
     Harrison, Hon. Erma Henderson, Prof. Evelyn Brooks 
     Higginbotham, Oliver W. Hill, Jimmy Hoffa, Jr., Dr. Melvin L. 
     Hollowell, Sr., Melvin ``Butch'' Hollowell, Jr., Dr. Benjamin 
     Hooks.
       Willie Horton, Charles Hamilton Houston, III, Corrine 
     Houston, Joseph and Jean Hudson, Dr. Ann Marie Ice, Mike and 
     Marian Ilitch, Dr. Lonnie Joe, Dr. Arthur L. and Chacona 
     Johnson, E. Christopher Johnson, Hon. Sterling Johnson.
       Hon. Nathaniel R. Jones, Vernon E. and Ann Jordan, Eleanor 
     Josaitis, Dr. Darnell and Shirley Kaigler, Peter and Danialle 
     Karmanos, Emory King, Joe W. Laymon, Otis K. Lee, Senator 
     Carl Levin, David Baker Lewis.
       Diana Lewis, Dr. Ronald Little, Samuel Logan, Hon. Conrad 
     L. Mallett, Jr., Richard and Jane Manoogian, Mrs. Thurgood 
     Marshall, Hon. and Mrs. William McClain, Mrs. Wade McCree, 
     Jr., Aubrey McCutcheon, Jr., Rodney O'Neal.
       Genna Rae McNeil, Jesse Jai McNeil, James Nicholson, Steve 
     Palackdharry, Nancy Parson, Dr. Robert E.L. Perkins, Dr. 
     William F. Pickard, Vivian Rogers Pickard, Sharon Madison 
     Polk, Gen. Colin and Alma Powell, Waltraud E. Prechter.
       Dr. Irvin D. Reid, Roy S. and Maureen Roberts, Dr. Alma 
     Rose, Dean Kurt L. Schmoke, Alan E. and Marianne Schwartz, 
     The Shaya Family, Roger Short, Tavis Smiley, Senator Debbie 
     Stabenow, Elaine Eason Steele.
       Marc Stepp, Emanuel Steward, Chuck Stokes, Herbert 
     Strather, Pres. H. Patrick Swygert, Frank Taylor, Dr. Natalia 
     Tanner, A. Alfred Taubman, Dr. Lorna Thomas, Reginald M. 
     Turner, Jr.
       Abe Venable, Richard Wade, Irene Walt, Hon. JoAnn Watson, 
     Rev. Lance Watson, Dr. Charles Whitten, Gov. Douglas Wilder, 
     Hon. Ann Claire Williams, Lt. Kenneth Williams, Mrs. Stanley 
     Winkelman, Robert Hughes Wright, Dean Frank Wu, David N. 
     Zack.
       Pallbearers: Luther Alton Keith, Gregory Sims, Reverend 
     Clinton C. Boone, III, Terrence Keith, Martinzey Sims, Alex 
     Parrish.
       Flower Bearers: Great Lakes Chapter of the Links, Inc. and 
     friends.
       Final Arrangements Entrusted to: Swanson Funeral Home, 
     Inc., 14751 W. McNichols Road, Detroit, Michigan, (313) 272-
     9000.
       Interment: Roseland Park Cemetery, Berkley, Michigan.
       Fellowship and Repast: Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church 
     (Following the Interment).
       Acknowledgment: The family of Dr. Rachel Boone Keith, 
     deeply appreciates your expressions of sympathy and acts of 
     kindness. Your love and support have been a great comfort.
       Contributions can be made to: The Dr. Rachel Boone Keith 
     Prize Fund at the School of Medicine. Checks should be made 
     payable to: ``Trustees of Boston University'' Note: Rachel 
     Boone Keith Fund Address: BU School of Medicine, 75 Albany 
     Street, L219, Boston, MA 02118. The Rachel Boone Keith Prize 
     Fund is a permanently endowed fund established as a tribute 
     by her family to provide annual awards to one or more forth 
     year African-American female students who demonstrate 
     excellence in performance at the Boston University School of 
     Medicine.

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