[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 87 (Tuesday, June 2, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S3453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING AMMALINE HELEN HOWARD

 Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I wish to honor Ammaline Helen 
``Amy'' Howard, a beloved member of the Charleston, WV community.
  The Howard family is a great, well-respected family in my beautiful 
State and I am honored to call the members of this family my dear 
friends. I had the privilege of meeting Amy, who was affectionately 
known by so many as Aunt Amy, many times. She was always humble, 
welcoming, and supportive. She was a pillar in the Howard family, 
standing strong on values with a captivating yet calming spirit. Her 
nieces and nephews knew if their parents told them ``no'' to something, 
that they could go to Aunt Amy and she would find a way to help them 
out.
  Put simply, individuals like Amy stand out. She was the epitome of 
what West Virginians are all about, with her welcoming nature and 
unwavering commitment to help those in need. Amy led by example and 
treated her neighbors as friends and her friends as family. She 
instilled this same loyal community service mindset throughout her 
family. She leaves behind her loving brother Victor, sister-in-law 
Elaine, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
  She was a second mother to many, and truly brought the whole family 
together. She made sure a hot meal was ready every evening, and if she 
saw you, she made sure you were invited to dinner that night.
  A native of Charleston, Amy graduated from Charleston High School in 
1933 and gave back to her hometown in many ways. She began working at 
the Naval Ordinance and Armor Plant in South Charleston before joining 
her brother in his successful grocery business, Sabe Howard's Market. 
She then worked for many years as a loyal employee of the Kanawha 
County Clerk's Office before her retirement in 1974.
  Among her many roles, she was a member of the Charleston Hightop Club 
and the West Virginia Woman's American Syrian League. Amy also 
supported the West Virginia Symphony League and the St. Jude Hospital 
because she was passionate about investing her time and efforts to 
helping others in any way that she could.
  She was a lifelong member of St. George Orthodox Cathedral, and was 
also a member of the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch and the St. 
George Ladies Guild, serving as an officer. Amy was fiercely committed 
to her church family, always willing to lend a helping hand or prepare 
food for church functions. Every year at the annual dinner she would 
help prepare food and make sure there were plenty of her legendary 
cabbage rolls.
  Aunt Amy was a model for the ages. She understood what really 
mattered in life and I enjoyed chatting with her about the jewels in 
the treasure box of life--family, faith, community, and service. She 
believed that staying active was the key to living a long, happy life. 
Amy loved to walk and visit the mall to get her favorite coffee and 
biscuits, and remained active until her late 90s.
  I recall one time being invited to Aunt Amy's basement kitchen where 
the heavy cooking really took place. It was filled with freezers, 
refrigerators, microwaves, and every cooking utensil you can think of. 
Not many people were invited down to her kitchen, so I knew I was 
really taken in as part of the family. She truly had that effect on 
people--it was a second home, and you were considered family. And 
family comes first.
  Amy was a beloved aunt, friend, and inspiration to the Charleston 
community. Her glowing smile and positive attitude were contagious and 
will live on in the memories and hearts of all those who had the 
privilege of knowing her. Amy's service was greatly appreciated and 
will certainly never be forgotten.

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