[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 101 (Tuesday, July 16, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN TRIBUTE TO BESSIE MARIE GRAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 16, 2013

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a mother, teacher, 
mentor, and community leader, Bessie M. Gray. On July 21, 2013 her over 
40 years of service will be celebrated and honored along with family, 
friends, former employees, and former students at a program entitled, 
``Mother to Many, Teacher to More and Mentor to All.''
  Mrs. Bessie Gray was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and moved to 
Milwaukee after graduating from high school, where she met and married 
her husband, Percy. She began her child care business in her home in 
1973 after working as a Head Start volunteer. Gray's Child Development 
Center, Inc. became a nonprofit organization and was accredited by the 
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). It 
was the first African American-led program in the State to achieve this 
accreditation.
  Mrs. Gray earned her bachelor's degree in early childhood education 
from the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee and her master's degree in 
educational administrative leadership from Marquette University. She 
was a State certified child care trainer for many years and started 
hundreds of teachers on their way to successful child care careers. She 
served on many boards and is a past member of Wisconsin Early Childhood 
Association (vice president), Midwest Early Childhood Association, 
Black Child Development Institute, and Easter Seals Southeastern 
Wisconsin. She continues to be available for board consultation.
  In 1991, Mrs. Gray began purchasing a property on North Teutonia 
Avenue from the Sisters of Sorrowful Mother. After providing day care 
services for children at this site for three years, the Sisters gifted 
the property to Mrs. Gray. For the next 20 years, Gray's operated out 
of that facility until its closure in 2011.
  Many honors and awards have been bestowed upon Mrs. Gray during her 
career, including Milwaukeean of the Month (Milwaukee Magazine) 1981, 
First African American Nationally Accredited Child Care Center in 
Wisconsin 1994, State of Wisconsin Annual Martin Luther King Jr. 
Heritage Award 2001, and Black Child Development Wisconsin Affiliate/
Child Care category 2009. She has touched the lives of thousands during 
her 48 years of service to children and their futures. When parents 
could not afford to pay the child care fees, she absorbed these costs 
to ensure that parents could maintain employment stability or finish 
their schooling.
  Bessie Gray is a woman armed with a strong personal faith. She taught 
Sunday school and provided a nursing home ministry. She was married to 
Percy Gray, Sr. for over 55 years until his passing in December 2010, 
and is the mother of nine children, with 23 grandchildren and several 
great grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I am honored to pay tribute to Bessie 
M. Gray, my friend. Mrs. Gray's contributions have greatly benefited 
the citizens of the Fourth Congressional District.

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