[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A TRIBUTE TO MRS. BELLA RUSSELL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of 
America's most deserving citizens, Mrs. Bella Russell who will be 
celebrating her 100th birthday on January 1, 2008. Mrs. Russell resides 
in Warren County within my Congressional District and is the 
grandmother of our friend and colleague, Congressman Albert Russell 
Wynn.
  Although Mrs. Russell was born in the County of Warren, she moved to 
Camden, NJ as a young child where she attended the public schools. In 
later years, Mrs. Russell married John Wesley Russell and through this 
marriage, three children were born. She is now the matriarch of this 
wonderful family with 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 7 
great-great grandchildren.
  From the State of New Jersey, the family relocated to North Carolina 
where they acquired a 200-acre farm. While Mr. Russell operated the 
farm, Mrs. Russell dedicated much of her time as a homemaker and 
occasionally assisted on the farm. She was also very actively engaged 
in her community and served as 4-H Club Leader for more than 10 years.
  Madam Speaker, Mrs. Russell has dedicated 70-faithful years of her 
life as a member of Russell Union RZUA Church. She has served as Church 
Mother for 50 years and took great pride in organizing church clubs and 
groups.
  Madam Speaker, over her lifetime, Mrs. Russell has lived through some 
of the most significant historical periods of our time. Like so many of 
the great historical monuments she has stood the test of time and has 
survived Reconstruction; lynching; WorId War I; the Great Depression; 
WorId War II; the period of segregation; the Civil Rights Movement; 
Voting Rights Movement; School Desegregation and other momentous times. 
She is indeed a walking history reference and we take great pride in 
recognizing her for being blessed with such longevity.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Mrs. Bella 
Russell, a most deserving American.

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