[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E520]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING MRS. SYLVIA YVONNE DRAKEFORD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 13, 2010

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of the life 
of Mrs. Sylvia Yvonne Drakeford. Mrs. Drakeford, a resident of 
Englewood, New Jersey, passed away on March 6, 2010 after decades of 
public service with the Englewood City Department of Education and 
Department of Recreation.
  During the past 30 years, Mrs. Drakeford served as the Playground 
Supervisor for the Department of Recreation. As supervisor, she was 
instrumental in restructuring the city's camping trip program to 
include affordable, package deals for the city's children. Prior to her 
time at the Department of Recreation, Mrs. Drakeford served as a 
teacher's aide at Cleveland and Quarles Schools in the City of 
Englewood for 27 years. For 15 of these years, she spent the first half 
of the day educating schoolchildren, and the second half entertaining 
them as the coordinator of the schools' After-School Program. Mrs. 
Drakeford's contributions to the city touched generations of Englewood 
residents.
  Mrs. Drakeford leaves behind a loving and adoring family. Her son 
Teddy Drakeford, whom I have known for nearly two decades, was a valued 
staffer in my office from 1996 until last year. He recently left my 
office to continue his mother's proud legacy of working with children.
  Madam Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in 
honoring Mrs. Drakeford for her lifetime of dedicated support to the 
children and residents of Englewood.

                          ____________________