[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 57 (Thursday, April 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E596-E597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING ALICE EASON BALLANCE ON THE OCCASION OF APRIL 20TH BEING 
   DECLARED AS ``ALICE EASON BALLANCE DAY'' IN BERTIE COUNTY, NORTH 
                                CAROLINA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 19, 2012

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge a 
constituent and friend, Mrs. Alice Eason Ballance, who has been the 
epitome of service to her community. For more than fifty years, Mrs. 
Ballance has advocated for better educational opportunities, voting 
rights, and racial equality for African American citizens. On April 20, 
2012, the Bertie County, North Carolina Board of Commissioners will 
officially declare that day ``Alice Eason Ballance Day'' for the 
County. I can think of no finer individual to bestow such an honor than 
this great American.
  Mrs. Ballance was born Alice Eason on July 8, 1919 in the small 
community of Cedar Landing in Bertie County, North Carolina. She was 
the youngest of three children following behind brother Willie and 
sister Mary, reared by parents George and Cynthia Eason. She grew up on 
a small farm where she learned very early the value and necessity of 
hard work; a trait she would go on to instill in everyone with whom she 
worked over the years.
  After graduating from Bertie County's W.S. Etheridge High School, Ms. 
Alice married

[[Page E597]]

Frank Winston Ballance, Sr. on August 14, 1938 and began to grow a 
family. Mr. and Mrs. Ballance reared five children: Frankie, George, 
Frank, Jr., James, and Vashti. She also pursued her passion of seeking 
to bring reforms to the system of public education that was clearly 
discriminating against African American children. She felt that it was 
unconscionable that African American children were required to attend 
inferior schools. She believed it was immoral and illegal that African 
American children were forced to walk to school while their white 
counterparts enjoyed bus transportation. And she found it unacceptable 
that the African American schools received their books, instructional 
materials, and other supplies as ``hand-me-downs'' from the white 
schools when they were no longer useful.
  As former President of the local branch of the NAACP for nearly two 
decades, Mrs. Ballance used the political process to make the changes 
she sought. Over the better part of the 20th century, Mrs. Ballance 
registered thousands of voters across North Carolina and informed them 
on the importance of voting. Her efforts impacted local, state, and 
federal elections in North Carolina and she became a well-known 
political force throughout the State.
  Mrs. Ballance's passion has always been ensuring that children--
particularly those without privilege--are well cared for and receive a 
quality education. To that end, Mrs. Ballance in 1980 opened the non-
profit Kiddie World Child Care Center, Inc. in Windsor, North Carolina. 
For more than 32 years, Mrs. Ballance has served as the Chief Executive 
Officer--a position this vibrant 93 year old still holds today. She 
tirelessly manages a staff of 20 that serve up to 50 children each day. 
She is extremely proud that Kiddie World has graduated more than 3,000 
students since it opened more than three decades ago.
  Mrs. Ballance is a deeply religious individual. She is a long 
standing member of Cedar Landing Missionary Baptist Church in Windsor, 
North Carolina. Over the years, she has held nearly every official 
Church position including Sunday School Teacher and Chair of the 
church's Kitchen Committee. The Church recently recognized Mrs. 
Ballance's dedication and longtime service to the Church and its 
members by honoring her with the title ``Mother of the Church.''
  Mr. Speaker, Alice Eason Ballance has dedicated her life in service 
to friends, family, and all of humanity. I commend and congratulate 
Alice Eason Ballance on the great honor of having April 20th from this 
year forward known as ``Alice Eason Ballance Day'' in Bertie County, 
North Carolina.

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