[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 156 (Thursday, December 2, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A TRIBUTE TO JULIA FENNER HOLLAND

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 2, 2010

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Julia Fenner 
Holland.
  Julia Fenner Holland, a native North Carolinian, was born and raised 
in a little town called Scotland Neck. The middle child of eleven 
siblings, she received her formal education in the Halifax County 
Public School System and continued her education at the North Carolina 
Central University. Julia was an active participant in the civil rights 
movement during the 1960s. Upon moving to Brooklyn, New York in 1969, 
she enrolled in Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor 
Relations and later completed studies at New York State Stenotype 
Academy in Manhattan, New York.
  Julia grew up in a wholesome rural environment where her parents 
instilled in their children the importance of sound religious values 
and education. She attributes her success in life to her parents who 
throughout their lives taught that one can attain anything in life by 
working hard and by having faith in God. In 1973, she was employed by 
the U.S. Postal Service and retired in 2003. During her tenure with the 
U.S. Postal Service, she held executive positions with the postal 
union. In this position, she traveled widely to various foreign 
countries, and to nearly every state in the Union promoting women's 
rights in the workplace. Her vast experiences have impacted the lives 
of many people positively.
  She began her fraternal career in the Prince Hall Masonic Family in 
1986. Since becoming a member, she has served untiringly with grace and 
pride in various positions, voluntarily doing charitable and benevolent 
work in her community and across the State of New York to help make a 
better life for others. Julia's philanthropic spirit embodies the very 
nature of the ethos of the Prince Hall Order of Eastern Star.
  In June 2009 Ms. Holland was elevated among her peers to the esteemed 
position of Grand Worthy Matron of Eureka Grand Chapter Prince Hall 
Order of Eastern Star., Incorporated, for the State of New York. In 
this position, she is the chief administrator of 53 subordinate 
chapters comprised of nearly three thousand members.
  She grew up in the Baptist Church in North Carolina and in 1988 
received the right hand of fellowship at Berean Baptist Church located 
in Brooklyn, New York, where she remains a member.
  She finds time to read, sew, and practice developing graphic art 
images on the computer when she is not doing voluntary work in soup 
kitchens in the East New York section of Brooklyn.
  The proud parent of two adult sons, Cedric and Christopher, she also 
had two lovely granddaughters, Naima and Nya. She emphatically states 
``God has been good to me''.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
achievements of Julia Fenner Holland.

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