[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 77 (Thursday, May 20, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E894]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN REMEMBRANCE OF DEBORAH VERNICE REYNOLDS-HAZEN OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS

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                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 2010

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember Deborah Vernice 
Reynolds-Hazen of Fort Worth, Texas.
  Debbie danced her way into the lives of her parents, Alverta and 
Clarence Reynolds on January 12, 1953 in Fort Worth, Texas. She 
graduated from Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School, Nolan Catholic High 
School, and Paul Quinn College. Before her college graduation, she 
attended Tarrant County Junior College, where she was crowned Miss 
TCJC, and she attended Texas Wesleyan College.
  Debbie was one of the first Black finalists for the Miss Texas 
pageant and one of the first Black models for the Kim Dawson modeling 
agency. In her work in the Water Quality Protection Division of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, she served as both a water specialist 
and the Texas Tribal Outreach Education Coordinator. Debbie also worked 
for the Corps of Engineers.
  Debbie loved Fort Worth and she dedicated her life to helping others 
through her very active community involvement. Mrs. Reynolds-Hazen was 
the first African-American chair of the Tarrant County Historical 
Commission. She also served on the Kupferle Board of the Harris 
Methodist Hospital system, as well as the boards of the Tarrant County 
Black Historical and Genealogical Society, the Arlington Landmarks 
Commission, Historic Preservation Council for Tarrant County and 
Historic Fort Worth.
  Debbie was a Fort Worth Assembly debutante and she continued her 
involvement with the distinguished organization as a general member and 
as a member of the Executive Board. She was a member of the Fort Worth 
chapter of the Links. She was a graduate of Leadership Fort Worth and 
was involved in her church of 57 years, the historic Our Mother of 
Mercy Catholic Church in Fort Worth's beautiful South Side. It was 
there that she was a member of St. Anne's Altar Society and had sung 
with the first OMM Gospel Choir.
  Always the life of anyone's party, Debbie was an enthusiastic and 
great dancer. In her lifetime, she had won many dance contests. It was 
not uncommon for her to make any floor her dancing arena. Her passion 
for dancing was infectious. She would pull people on the dance floor 
and made everyone want to dance with her, including those who were the 
most shy.
  Debbie never met a stranger. She had an unparalleled flair about her. 
She could sashay into any crowd of people she didn't know and would 
walk away knowing the majority of them or the majority of people would 
walk away knowing who Debbie was.
  This social butterfly was a very well-rounded person. An avid 
supporter of visual and performing arts, Debbie was a patron of museums 
and theatre, she travelled around the world, won many trivia contests, 
and played classical piano. She even recorded an album showcasing her 
musical talent.
  She is survived by her beloved and devoted husband of 15 years, 
Robert J. Hazen, stepdaughters Robin Renee Black, UVanna Miller, 
brother, Clarence Reynolds, Jr., nieces, Judith M. Bell, Shelly Bell, 
and Jessica Reynolds, cousin (and unofficial younger sister), Glenda 
Batts Williams and uncles Roscoe Marion Means, Marshall Batts, and 
Melvin Buckner, and a whole host of loving relatives and dear friends.
  Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Alverta and Clarence, by 
her sister, Clarece, sister-in-law, Alma, and stepson Wes Hazen. She 
danced her way back into these beloved relatives' lives on May 14, 
2010.
  A Wake will be held in Debbie's memory on Friday, May 21, 2010, at 
7:00 p.m. at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church at 1001 Terrell 
Avenue, in Fort Worth, Texas. The funeral Mass will be held at Our 
Mother of Mercy Catholic Church on Saturday, May 22, 2010, at 1:00 p.m. 
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, a gift to the National Kidney 
Foundation be made in Mrs. Reynolds-Hazen's memory.
  Madam Speaker, today I rise in remembrance of the very talented, 
enthusiastic, dedicated and selfless Deborah Vernice Reynolds-Hazen. 
She has had a profound effect on many, and will be dearly missed.

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