[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 174 (Monday, December 5, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                  PEARLIE EVANS DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. WM. LACY CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 5, 2016

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I delivered the following remarks on behalf of 
my father, former Congressman William (Bill) Clay, at the funeral of 
Pearlie Evans on Saturday, November 26, 2016, in St. Louis, Missouri.

       My friendship with Pearlie spans more than 50 years. During 
     that time we worked together, laughed together, cried 
     together, and raised a lot of hell together.
        I first met Pearlie Evans in the early 1960s when a close 
     political associate, Arthur Kennedy, introduced us. He and I 
     had just helped A.J. Cervantes get elected. The new mayor 
     asked me to recommend someone to fill the position of 
     Commissioner of Social Services.
        I invited Pearlie to lunch and offered her the position. 
     She was honored but turned down the offer--telling me of her 
     deep devotion in helping residents at the Fellowship Center 
     and Plymouth House. Without any success, I mentioned that her 
     salary would have been twice that at Fellowship Center and 
     help many more people like those at the Plymouth House. Then, 
     I took her to lunch twice and once to dinner before she 
     agreed.
        Finally, a well-fed Pearlie Evans accepted the offer and 
     performed exceptionally well in the position.
        Her background in social work, dealing with grassroots, 
     ghetto residents, allowed her to develop a realistic grasp of 
     the problems faced by low-income, unemployed, poverty 
     stricken individuals. She provided the compassion and know-
     how in closing the gap that kept many of them from resolving 
     their woes.
        Having disdain and contempt for all kinds of 
     discrimination and segregation, her agenda was about 
     identifying injustice and reshaping our society until it 
     adjusted to accommodate the needs of its underprivileged.
        When my first District Director left, I asked Pearlie to 
     run my congressional district office. But this time I knew 
     better than to invite her to lunch or dinner. She accepted 
     and made an ideal District Director for the next 28 years.
        Perhaps, more than anyone else other than my wife Carol, 
     Pearlie was able to successfully put up with me and all my 
     audaciousness, my insolence, my sarcasm and my bluster. Her 
     simple response of ``ohhhhhhh, Congressman'' more often than 
     not was the perfect tonic to calm a rough or chaotic 
     situation. She was by my side through good times and bad. Her 
     advice and counsel was usually sound.
        Pearlie was also a pioneer in politics who developed a new 
     strategy for advancing the cause of civil rights and 
     enhancing opportunities. She ushered in the concept that it 
     was time to stop begging for what was ours by citizenship and 
     to start demanding rights that were ours by birth. She played 
     a key role in our developing the political apparatus capable 
     of delivering lopsided margins in electing candidates. She 
     had the unique ability to attract and surround us with people 
     of wisdom, vision, integrity and commitment to racial 
     equality.
        She joined a cadre of other outstanding women like Gwen 
     Giles, Ruth Porter, Deverne Calloway, Marian Oldham and many 
     others that enabled our group to convince many to overcome 
     their political apathy and to reject disgraceful absentee 
     elected officials pretending to represent our interests.
        I owe a great deal of my political success to committed 
     and dedicated women like Pearlie. In my elections to 
     Congress, women managed all of my campaigns: Doris Moore, 
     Gwen Giles, Gwen Reed and Pearlie Evans each served as 
     campaign managers in all 16 of them.
        Pearlie, Virginia Cook, and Gwen Reed also played a key 
     role in electing my son Lacy Clay to Congress.
        Pearlie journeyed through a career that forced the 
     political system to change the face of our politics and to 
     provide us with people who truly voiced our legitimate 
     concerns.
        She was always on the picket lines, at the sit-ins, in the 
     marches for school equality, wherever the protests against 
     injustice were being waged. She was there to give active 
     support in campaigns that changed the landscape of bigoted 
     policies and replaced them with opportunities for minorities 
     in St. Louis.
        Very few lived their life with the enthusiasm, the 
     commitment, the determination, the gusto of Pearlie. She 
     lived every day with the intent of giving back to the 
     community and enhancing the lives of those denied the 
     benefits of humane treatment. In touching their lives, it was 
     a testament to her endearing respect for each individual's 
     humanity.
        Carol and I join with you in acknowledging that she was an 
     uncommon lady with a phenomenal effect on those of us who 
     were graced by her presence. She was something special, 
     something beautiful, something precious.
        Although Pearlie would tell us not to shed tears for her 
     but rather for a world that is suffering the ravages of war, 
     disease, hunger and racism--still, without ignoring her 
     request not to shed tears for her passing, we are obligated 
     to shed tears for future generations that will never 
     experience the sight of her doing battle with the giants of 
     society who have profited from exploiting those unable to 
     fight back. We mourn for those who will never bear witness to 
     her unyielding fight against bureaucratic bigots in fighting 
     for racial justice.
        Yes, Pearlie, when remembering you, what you stood for, 
     how much of your mission is yet unfulfilled, our tears are 
     justified. We cry today because we will have no more 
     tomorrows with you. But we thank God for all the yesterdays 
     we spent with you.
        We remember all of the good you have done, all of the 
     people you have helped, all of the causes you have 
     championed. We take comfort in the fact that our community, 
     our state and our nation are better as a result of your 
     having been here.
        We have witnessed in you a towering, incredible, noble, 
     dedicated defender of what's right--so we say in all 
     sincerity--so long, our courageous sister in the struggle for 
     equal justice--so long!

                          ____________________