[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 149 (Thursday, October 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1790-E1791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF MRS. FRANCES REEVES JOLLIVETTE CHAMBERS AND 
  RECOGNIZING HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO MIAMI'S AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2011

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
life of Mrs. Frances

[[Page E1791]]

Reeves Jollivette Chambers, a great educator, historian, and civil 
rights activist in Miami's African American community. Fran passed away 
at the age of 89 after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer's disease. My 
thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends at this most 
difficult time. She is survived by her daughters, Regina Jollivette 
Frazier and Cleo Leontine Jollivette; son, Cyrus M. Jollivette; her 
brother, Garth C. Reeves; four grandchildren; and three great-
grandchildren. Tragically, Fran lost her first husband, Cyrus M. 
Jollivette, Sr., to a storm in January 1960. In July 1963, she married 
James R. Chambers, who passed away in June 2000.
  Fran was born on November 13, 1921, in Overtown, Miami's historic 
African American neighborhood. She was the sixth of five surviving 
children born to the late Henry E.S. Reeves and Rachel Jane Cooper 
Reeves, who had emigrated from Nassau, Bahamas to Miami in April 1919 
and founded The Miami Times, Florida's oldest Black newspaper. Fran 
graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1938 before 
receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude from Bennett 
College in 1942 and a Master of Arts degree from New York University in 
1959. In addition, she later studied at the University of Miami, 
University of Florida, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) 
University, Florida Atlantic University, and Barry University, earning 
more graduate credits than required for her doctorate.
  Fran was a true educator. For more than 37 years, she taught and 
guided students at Dunbar Elementary School, Miami Jackson Senior High 
School, Continuing Opportunities for Purposeful Education (COPE) Center 
North, and Holmes Elementary School as a teacher, reading specialist, 
counselor, and principal. During this time, Fran also dedicated her 
time and energy to numerous causes as a volunteer for the March of 
Dimes and the American Heart Association, JESCA board chair, a board 
member of Senior Centers of Dade County, and a member of the American 
Association of University Women. In the 1970s and 1980s, she was a 
member of the Florida State Board of Optometry and the League of Women 
Voters.
  After retiring from the Dade County Public Schools in July 1979, Fran 
continued giving back to her community and traveled the world, visiting 
over 50 countries and six continents. She was a lifelong member of 
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a platinum member of The Links, 
Inc., and a charter member and past president of the MRS Club, a six-
decades-old group of friends. Fran was also a member of the Daughters 
of the King at Incarnation Episcopal Church.
  Almost 30 years ago, Fran first dreamed of publishing a book that 
would preserve and share the history of Miami's Black pioneers. Her 
vision was realized in Linkages and Legacies, a 120-page, hardbound 
coffee table book chronicling the works, deeds, and experiences of 
Miami's Black pioneers. Published in March 2010 by The Links, Inc., 
Greater Miami Chapter, through the non-profit Linkages and Legacies, 
Inc., this publication was distributed for free as a gift to the 
community. Furthermore, Fran's concept served as the inspiration for 
the AT&T African American History Calendar, which was created 17 years 
ago. These important works would not have been possible without the 
efforts of individuals like Fran, who have dedicated their lives to 
serving their communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I have had the privilege and pleasure of knowing Fran 
and her family personally. The Miami community has lost one of its 
great pioneers, and she will be dearly missed. Thanks to Fran's many 
contributions, however, her legacy of education, compassion, and love 
will live on for generations to come.

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