[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 3, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE LIFE OF VALERIE C. BECKLEY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate African American 
History Month, I rise to pay tribute to Ms. Valerie Beckley, a resident 
of my community who recently passed away. Ms. Beckley was a daughter, a 
wife, a mother, an avid churchgoer, and a dear friend to many. She was 
a longstanding and active member of the Curey Tercentenary African 
American Episcopal Church.
  Valerie and her family lived on the west side of Chicago during her 
formative years. One can say that they were pioneers of sorts. They 
were some of the first African Americans to live in their area. Valerie 
was one of the first 100 black students to integrate Austin High School 
in the 1960s. Even as a child, Valerie displayed exceptional 
leadership, and was the first black female chosen to become the captain 
of both the girls volleyball and basketball teams at Austin High 
School. Valerie grew up in a close, nurturing and bonded family formed 
by her parents--Mr. Larry and Mrs. Ollie Mae Mitchell.
  Valerie attended and obtained a bachelor's degree in Sociology from 
Roosevelt University and, later on, a master's degree in Social Work 
from Loyola University.
  On September 11, 1976, Valerie married Jerome Beckley, Junior, and 
they were blessed with two beautiful children--Shakir and Kamaria.
  In 1979, Valerie became President and CEO of her family's company, 
the Lawndale Paper Supply, which was the only paper and janitorial 
wholesale supply company on the west side of Chicago. Here she honed 
her management and marketing skills and implemented both long- and 
short-range goals.
  In 1986, Valerie became associated with the other love of her life, 
the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois. Valerie assumed the 
role of camp director of the Bright Horizons Summer Camp. Later, she 
became a program specialist, and in short order, she became totally 
immersed in the plight of people affected by sickle cell disease.
  In 2002, when Howard Anderson--the founder and president of the 
Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois--decided to retire, he 
stated that he could find no better person to take over as president, 
and she did, devoting the rest of her life providing aid and comfort to 
sickle cell patients, raising money for services and working 
continuously to try and help find a cure for this dreadful disease.
  For most of her 58 years on this Earth, Valerie C. Beckley's life was 
driven by her compassion to serve the marginalized, the underserved and 
the misrepresented. She became a dedicated leader and advocate whose 
passion for the welfare of others has helped numerous families in 
Chicago, the State of Illinois and within the broader context of the 
African Diaspora.
  Mr. Speaker, Valerie represented to all of us who knew her the fact 
that one can give of oneself and not tire. She gave totally of herself 
to the end of her life, to the end of time for the benefit of others.
  We all say thank you, Valerie.

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