[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 184 (Thursday, December 17, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CELEBRATING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF MS. VIRGINIA VEAL

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                          HON. ANDER CRENSHAW

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 17, 2015

  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the 100th 
Birthday of Ms. Virginia Inez Bates Veal on December 17, 2015. Born on 
December 17, 1915, Ms. Veal has called Jacksonville, Florida home since 
her family moved from Bartow, Florida in 1918 when she was just three 
years old.
   Virginia's life reads right out of the pages of a Jacksonville 
history book. As a young girl, she survived the Spanish Flu Epidemic 
that ran rampant through Florida in 1918. Her family endured the 
difficulties of the Great Depression in the late 1920's. And in 1934 
Virginia graduated from Jacksonville's second oldest high school, and 
also my alma mater, Robert E. Lee High School.
   After graduation, Virginia began working at Furchgott's, a local 
department store, in the Ladies Fine Wear section. After a 20 year 
career she retired as the Department Manager. During this time, 
Virginia raised two sons, Lamar Jr. and Lewis, in Jacksonville's well 
known preservation area of Murray Hill. Her two sons, also graduates of 
Robert E. Lee High School, went on to college and graduated from the 
University of Florida.
   Virginia was married for almost 58 years to Mr. Prentice Veal. Mr. 
Veal managed and owned several dry cleaning plants around Jacksonville 
and Orange Park, Florida. Virginia today still enjoys cooking, 
gardening, visiting with family and friends, and is very active in her 
ladies' circle and Sunday school class at Riverside Park United 
Methodist Church.
   Mr. Speaker, I hope you will join me in wishing Jacksonville native, 
Ms. Virginia Veal, a very special happy 100th birthday.

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