[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 138 (Tuesday, September 13, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DR. OLLYE SHIRLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 13, 2016

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life and legacy of Dr. Ollye Shirley who has touched the lives of many 
in Mississippi. She recently passed away on September 10, 2016.
  Dr. Ollye Shirley grew up the big sister to two brothers in the home 
of two teachers in Mound Bayou, MS. Ms. Ollye Brown's parents taught at 
a one-room school and their home was situated on land that her family 
still owns. When Ollye Brown graduated from high school, she went on to 
attend Tougaloo College. Fond Tougaloo memories conjure images of 
singing under the trees and playing baseball.
  Ollye also remembers Tougaloo as a college ``small enough to make 
really good close friends--kind of like a family. If somebody needed 
something, alumni or other students would pitch in.'' While lettering 
in basketball and being an all-conference guard, Ollye Brown maintained 
her status on the Dean's list.
  Miss Brown met and was courted by her college sweetheart Aaron 
Shirley '55 at Tougaloo College.
  This self-motivated honor student graduated from Tougaloo in 1953 
with a Bachelor of Arts in English and gained employment at Burglund 
High School in McComb, MS. When her husband graduated from Tougaloo in 
1955, the family moved to Nashville for his medical education at 
Meharry Medical College. Over those four years, Ollye worked as a 
secretary for Tennessee State University and earned extra money typing 
theses for graduate students. She also worked for Davidson County as a 
welfare worker for their last two Nashville years.
  Because the Civil Rights Movement did not receive much or very 
accurate coverage, several branches of the Mississippi Freedom 
Democratic Party published their own newsletters. Dr. Aaron Shirley 
graduated from Meharry, the family moved back to Mississippi, and Ollye 
shared with Dilla E. Irwin the editorship of the Vicksburg branch's 
newsletter, the Citizen's Appeal.
  Dr. Ollye Shirley later worked for the Children's Television 
Workshop; then served on the JPS school board from 1978-1993, the last 
four years as president.
  In her years of education, Dr. Shirley has served the children of 
Mississippi admirably. She worked with PBS' CTW for almost 25 years, 
helping determine the direction of educational television by bringing 
programs such as ``Sesame Street,'' ``Electric Company'' and 
``Ghostwriters.'' In her last position in the CTW, Dr. Shirley served 
as regional director, training teachers how to use these shows as 
educational tools.
  Dr. Ollye Brown Shirley's recent recognitions include Link of the 
Decade for Services to Youth from the Jackson Chapter of The Links. In 
addition, the story of her achievements is told on the 2010 documentary 
`In Spite of it All' by Wilma Mosley Clopton. Dr. Ollye Brown Shirley 
is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., initiated through 
Tougaloo's Gamma Psi Chapter.
  Doctors Aaron and Ollye Brown Shirley's marriage bore four children: 
Kevin, Terrence, Christal S. Porter, and Erin Shirley Orey and her five 
much loved grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me 
in celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Ollye Shirley.

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