[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING LOU ELLA ROBINSON-WELTON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2011

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lou 
Ella Robinson-Welton. Ms. Welton was born to the late Reverend John D. 
(Doc) Robinson, a Baptist Minister, and Ella Jones-Robinson, a 
homemaker, on April 10, 1921, in Itta Bena, Mississippi. She was the 
youngest of six and is the only surviving member. Her siblings were 
Russell, Frank, Arie, and Seavon and Cleavon (twins). She was married 
to Sammie Lee Welton Senior, also from Itta Bena, Mississippi, for 41 
years until his death in 1986. Sammie Sr. was a World War II Disabled 
Veteran, a Purple Heart Recipient, a Radio Technician, Printer, and 
Retired Mississippi Valley State University Laundry Technician. They 
have 5 children: Vernola, Arie Lue, Sammie Jr., Joyce, and Wanda, all 
graduates of Mississippi Valley State University. Lou Ella has 12 
grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
  Lou Ella Robinson Welton is an educator, community activist, and for 
42 years, was a full-time teacher to generations of students in and 
around Leflore County, and is affectionately known throughout her 
community as ``Miss Welton.'' Miss Welton began her career as a 
teacher/educator when she graduated high school, taking her first 
teaching job when she was 18. Public schools for African Americans in 
the early 1900s were rare, so her family sent her to private boarding 
schools. She was the first in her family to complete high school and 
the only one to graduate college.
  She began her education in Humphreys County but the family moved back 
to Leflore County after only several months. She attended school at the 
Saint John's Palo Alto and the Leflore County Training Schools in Itta 
Bena and graduated from the Stone Street School in Greenwood, 
Mississippi in 1941. She attended Rust College, and later Mississippi 
Vocational College, now Mississippi Valley State University, when it 
was little more than a dream in the eyes of its first president, Dr. 
James Herbert White. Attending Saturday and summer sessions, she and 
her husband, Sammie (vocational degree in printing), were among the 
first graduating class of 1953. She was the only sibling to graduate 
from college and is one of only two surviving members of the first 
Graduating Class of 1953 at Mississippi Vocational College in Itta 
Bena, Mississippi.
  After receiving her B.S. degree in elementary education, Miss Welton 
taught in the Leflore County School System for over 42 years. She 
taught elementary education, special education, and migrant education 
with an emphasis on independent living, during her career. She has 
attended numerous training programs at universities around the country 
and received certificates in many academic areas related to teaching.
  Miss Welton has also been active in her community and church where 
she has lived for the last 89 years. She was a member of the church 
choir, Sunday School teacher, Home Mission Society, and still serves as 
a Mother of the church. Miss Welton has been a member of the Goodwill 
Industrial Club, which she co-founded (a group of women who assisted 
needy families), The Cancer Network Control, Leflore County Homemakers, 
and the Mississippi Education Association.
  Her other activities have included selling a variety of commodities 
in the community that included: Avon, Shaklee, Sarah Coventry, World 
Book Encyclopedia and Sewing for anyone who wanted something special. 
She made costumes for many years for the sororities and fraternities at 
Mississippi Valley State University.
  She worked part-time at the Roses Department Store and the Spotless 
Cleaners in Itta Bena, Mississippi. She has mentored numerous students 
who still call and come by to maintain the friendships that were 
garnered many years ago. She has a good memory and likes to talk about 
the good old days to former students, family and friends. Miss Welton 
remains active by attending local functions, Adult Day Care, talking on 
the telephone, and keeping abreast of current events through the 
newspaper and television.

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