[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING FORMER WEST VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATE MEMBER BEATRICE 
                           ``JACKIE'' WITHROW

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2010

  Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, Jackie Withrow was an angel for the ages. 
She was Florence Nightingale, Susan B. Anthony and Eleanor Roosevelt 
all rolled into one.
  If the Almighty had to pick a day to open Heaven's Gates for Jackie, 
none could be mean more meaningful than Veteran's Day for no one cared 
more or worked harder for our veterans. One estimate credited Jackie 
with 27,500 hours of service to our veterans.
  I am sure that number would pale in comparison to all she really did 
over her lifetime of dedication to our veterans, taking them to church 
services on Sundays and planning new ways to serve them at all hours.
  Many people blaze trails, and Jackie accomplished that but made sure 
others were able to follow her.
  Jackie was always known for breaking new ceilings for women. She 
cared about that, of course. But I think she and the women who 
supported her and followed in her footsteps were proudest of the issues 
on which they could command attention in their day, like health care. 
Health care was on Jackie's radar screen from the beginning--for our 
miners, our children, and those needing mental health services.
  Senator Bill Wooton led the charge to make sure we would forever be 
reminded of her trailblazing leadership by appropriately naming a 
hospital for her.
  Bill spoke of ``Mercy'' and ``Justice'' to describe Jackie's 
contributions to us. To those we must surely add, ``Commitment'' and 
``Dedication.''
  Her public service never wavered. Although she served in our state's 
legislature for a generation, her longest public service was as a good 
citizen and dependable neighbor.
  Long out of office, Jackie continued opening doors of opportunity and 
opening the eyes of the rest of us. Always with a warm heart and 
determined will, Jackie Withrow changed our world for the better.
  Jackie's lasting legacy to each of us was her fierce loyalty to what 
she believed in the most--the ``least'' of us, as Christ taught. And, 
we recall the loyalty of Ruth in the Old Testament as we celebrate 
Jackie's loyalty to those who needed her hand and hope the most:

     Do not press me to leave you
     or to turn back from following you!
     Where you go, I will go;
     Where you lodge, I will lodge;
     Your people shall be my people and your God my God.
     Where you die, I will die
     There I will be buried.
     May the Lord do thus and so to me
     And more as well
     If even death parts me from you!

  Next to my family, Jackie was my earliest and strongest supporter. I 
will celebrate Jackie's life the rest of my days. I know countless 
others will never be far from her firm hand of friendship, her warm 
smile of compassion, and that ever present twinkle in her eye of 
figuring out how she was going to help.
  My family and I offer Jackie's family and her many friends our 
thoughts and prayers, as we all celebrate this extraordinary woman's 
life.

                          ____________________