[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 27, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E597-E598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MRS. GLADYS TARVER COLEMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 27, 2016

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
and legacy of a true trailblazer in the Fairfield, Alabama community 
and an Alabama heroine--Mrs. Gladys Tarver Coleman. A lifelong resident 
of Fairfield, Mrs. Gladys Coleman was born there on May 15, 1917. She 
received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Miles College and her 
Master's degree from Alabama A&M University. Mrs. Coleman also received 
educational training from Tuskegee University and the University of 
Southern California. She was married to the late Jerry D. Coleman, the 
first black President of the Fairfield City Council.

[[Page E598]]

   Mrs. Gladys Coleman is best known for her tireless efforts around 
voter registration and voter mobilization. She was one of the founding 
members of the Fairfield Democratic Women, an organization created over 
60 years ago to help educate voters, mobilize the Fairfield community, 
and elect candidates supportive of the community's needs. Mrs. Coleman 
was passionate about impacting the political dialogue in her community 
and it showed through her efforts to help elect council members, 
judges, state representatives and even members of Congress--all of whom 
Mrs. Coleman knew on a personal level.
   Mrs. Gladys Coleman's political affiliations were numerous. She 
served as president of the Fairfield Democratic Women, and a member of 
the Jefferson County (AL) and State Democratic Executive Committees. In 
April 2015, she was one of seven honorees inducted into the Alabama 
Democratic Party Hall of Fame. Mrs. Coleman was a member of the Alabama 
Democratic Delegation to the 1984 National Democratic Convention in San 
Francisco, CA, the 1992 convention in New York City, and the 1996 
convention in Chicago, IL. She was also present in Washington, DC for 
the January 2009 inauguration of our Nation's first black president, 
Barack Obama.
   Besides politics, Mrs. Coleman's other passion was education. She 
believed in educating children about life, as well as book knowledge. 
She was a retired teacher from the Jefferson County (AL) and Birmingham 
City School Systems. Mrs. Coleman was the first black member appointed 
to the Fairfield Board of Education during the crucial years of 
desegregation in the city's school system. In 1975, she was appointed 
by the Alabama State Superintendent of Education to serve on the 
Accreditation Committee for Elementary Schools. Mrs. Coleman was a 
member of the Alabama and National Education Associations, and the 
American Federation of Teachers.
   Mrs. Gladys Coleman was a lifelong member of her beloved Miles 
Chapel CME Church and served in many capacities over the years, 
including as choir member, Christian Board of Education, Ladies Guild, 
Missionary Society, and Steward Board.
   Mrs. Coleman believed her ``life's work'' was educating her 
community about the importance of voting. She also enjoyed music--big 
bands, jazz and The Temptations, as well as shopping, and spending time 
taking care of her family. She was preceded in death by her late 
husband of 44 years, Jerry D. Coleman, and her brothers, Lawrence 
(Alberta), William, and John Tarver. She leaves to cherish her memory 
numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
   On a personal note, I was blessed to call Mrs. Gladys Coleman a 
political mentor, distant relative and an important ally. When I 
decided to run for Congress in 2009, everyone told me there was only 
one person whose support in Fairfield would determine my success. When 
I went to her house to ask for her vote, she drilled me for hours on 
every issue affecting the Fairfield and Birmingham communities. She was 
dedicated to her beloved Fairfield Democratic Women and I will always 
be grateful for her support and the support of this influential group, 
including her honoring me with her presence at my swearing-in ceremony 
on Capitol Hill in January 2011. Mrs. Gladys Coleman was the real 
matriarch of the Fairfield community and the rock of her family. She 
instilled a sense of pride in all who knew her and had a sincere 
passion to better her community through public service and political 
activism. She was a committed servant leader and demanded the same 
excellence from others.
   I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring an icon of Fairfield and 
an Alabama treasure--Mrs. Gladys Tarver Coleman. Her legacy will 
continue to live on in the countless lives that she touched. May the 
Blessing of God be with her family and provide solace in their loss.

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