[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING MRS. FRANKIE DRAYTON THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 9, 2010

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to 
the life and legacy of the late Mrs. Frankie Drayton Thomas. It is with 
both profound sadness, but also an enduring sense of gratitude that I 
recognize her for the tremendous inspiration she provided to the South 
Florida community--specifically to the Broward Democratic Party.
  Mrs. Thomas was born in West Palm Beach, Florida to Iola and Frank 
Drayton. She attended public schools and graduated in 1946 as an honor 
student from Industrial High School. In order to further her education, 
she attended Howard University in Washington, DC and graduated in 1950. 
She received a Master's degree in Public Administration from Florida 
International University. Subsequent to that time, she returned to West 
Palm Beach and became the first black college trained social worker 
hired by the Department of Public Welfare. She enjoyed a fruitful and 
productive career as a social worker having worked both in the State of 
Washington and Florida. In 1995, she retired from the Department of 
Health and Rehabilitative Services as Director of Resource Development 
and Volunteer Services.
  In an effort to complement her professional achievements, Mrs. Thomas 
was involved in many political, social and family endeavors such as co-
founder, national president and executive director of the Charmettes 
Inc., which has 19 chapters both nationally and internationally; 
founding president of the Northwest Democratic Club in Fort Lauderdale, 
Florida; Board of Directors of the Urban League; the first African-
American female in the nation to be head of the Board of Directors of 
South East Hospice; and Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts of 
America.
  Additionally, Mrs. Thomas was on the management team of the 
Democratic Broward County Executive Committee and served as the First 
Vice-Chair of the Democratic Party. She also served as Parliamentarian 
for the Broward County Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, 
Incorporated. She organized and executed many political forums and 
helped with many campaigns including Governor Bob Graham, Congressman 
Alcee Hastings, many of the Broward County Commissioners and School 
Board Members, Sheriff Ken Jenne, Attorney General Bob Butterworth, and 
President William J. Clinton.
  Mrs. Thomas was blessed with a loving family who took pleasure in 
every aspect of her life and her interests. She is survived by her 
husband, James Thomas Sr. This union produced two children, James 
Thomas Jr. and Iola Thomas Mosley, and seven grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, I ask you and all the members of this esteemed 
legislative body to join me in recognizing the extraordinary life and 
accomplishments of Mrs. Frankie Drayton Thomas. I am honored to pay 
tribute to Mrs. Thomas for her invaluable services and tireless 
dedication to the South Florida community. She will be missed by all 
who knew her, and I appreciate this opportunity to pay tribute to her 
before the United States House of Representatives. While she will 
indeed be missed, her legacy will live on and the outstanding 
contributions she made to the betterment of Broward Democratic Party 
will never be forgotten.

                          ____________________