[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 22 (Thursday, February 9, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATING CHARLOTTE HAWKINS FLOWERS ON HER 112TH BIRTHDAY

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 9, 2012

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr Speaker, I rise today and ask my 
colleagues to join me in wishing a happy 112th birthday to Ms. 
Charlotte Hawkins Flowers.
  Ms. Flowers, or Gram as she is lovingly called by her family, was 
born on March 20, 1900 in Madison, Florida. Throughout her life, Gram 
has always taken care of others. Whether friends, families, neighbors 
or strangers, Gram always was ready to help others in any way she 
could. Her granddaughter, whom she has lived with in Riviera Beach 
since 2005, reflected that Gram lived her life in adherence to 
Ecclesiastes 9:10 which states that: ``Whatever your hand finds to do, 
do it with all your might.''
  With a special place in her heart for helping children, Gram had a 
in-home day care center in the 60's and 70's and has been a foster 
grandparent. As the oldest of three daughters and four sons born to 
Date Hawkins, she left school in the third grade to help care for her 
siblings. However, she still learned how to read and write and provided 
her grandchildren with help with their homework.
  Gram also has a knack for cooking, working as a cook at Florida State 
University and also as a private home cook. Although she personally has 
a sweet tooth and loves Coca-Cola, sweet tea, and sweet potato pie, as 
a cook, one of her specialties was homemade biscuits. In addition to 
filling others up with delicious food, she also fills them with wisdom. 
One of her trademark sayings is ``Be careful how you treat people. 
Because you're up today doesn't mean you won't be down tomorrow.'' This 
sentiment was something my grandmother used to also share with me and 
are words we should all live by every day in caring for others.
  To that end, Gram always was active in her church, the Philadelphia 
Primitive Baptist Church in Tallahassee. She believes that it is her 
walk with Jesus that keeps her going strong. This strength allowed her 
until a few years ago to visit the sick and shut-in members of her 
church. Although she learned to drive, Gram never got her drivers' 
license or owned a car so she would often walk to make these visits. 
Even at 111, Gram still tries to help out in any way she can.
  Mr. Speaker, on February 20, 2012, Ms. Charlotte Hawkins Flowers will 
be celebrating her 112th birthday with her son's family in Florida. 
Although she has survived her six siblings and nine children, she will 
be surrounded by a multitude of family: 5 grandchildren, 12 great-
grandchildren, 11 great-great grandchildren, 16 great-great-great 
grandchildren, and 4 great-great-great-great grandchildren. It is my 
distinguished honor to wish her a very happy birthday and congratulate 
her on reaching this milestone and dedicating her life to caring for 
others.

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