[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 152 (Friday, December 12, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING CLEOTHA SADDLER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 11, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable hero, Cleotha Saddler.
  Cleotha Saddler was born on February 1, 1945 in Illinois to Garfield 
Allen and Viola Orr. She grew up in a home with six other relatives 
until her father decided he would raise her in Memphis, TN. Cleotha 
attended Mississippi Valley State University where she earned multiple 
degrees in elementary education. She later married Frank Saddler, Jr., 
settled in Marks, MS, and gave birth to nine children.
  Today, Cleotha, also known as ``Cleo'' or ``Lou'', is the rock of her 
family. She continues to care for her children, and take care of her 
grandchildren. Over the course of her life, she has contributed to her 
community tremendously. Her name has become one so common for helping 
others that the desire from others to want to help even her 
grandchildren has increased. She is most known in her efforts for 
raising money for those in need.
  In 2005, she stood at the main intersection in Marks, MS tirelessly 
to gather donations from townspeople to send to Louisiana for Hurricane 
Katrina victims. In addition to that, she is never been reluctant to 
gather donations in that same way for families who cannot afford to pay 
for the funerals and burials of their loved ones. She comforts those 
families, not just with funds but with endless visits and ``check-in'' 
calls. She also helps organizations to decorate and/or cook for 
different events in the community. She is one that is very supportive 
of the school system, in reference to achieving adequate education. 
Cleotha is never hesitant to help anyone in any way that she possibly 
can.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. 
Cleotha Saddler for she is definitely the epitome of an unsung hero.

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