[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 17, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E71]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MARLENE JOHNSON-ODOM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 17, 2017

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend 
Marlene Johnson-Odom. She served as alderwoman on the City of Milwaukee 
Common Council for the sixth aldermanic district for more than 24 
years. Ms. Johnson-Odom passed away on January 9, 2017.
  Marlene Johnson-Odom was a lifelong Milwaukee resident. She was a 
product of the public school system and a fellow graduate of North 
Division High School. Marlene received a Bachelor of Science degree 
from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
  Prior to becoming an elected official, Ms. Johnson-Odom worked for 
Milwaukee Public Schools and was TV Hostess at Channel 18, a local 
television station. Ms. Johnson-Odom succeeded her first husband Ben 
Johnson on the Common Council and was known as a quiet but effective 
leader. While serving on the Common Council, one of the achievements of 
which she was most proud was the renaming of 3rd Street to Martin 
Luther King Drive. Always approachable, Marlene provided outstanding 
service to her constituents.
  Ms. Johnson-Odom was always extremely involved in the community and 
served on numerous boards and commissions including: Milwaukee Area 
Technical College Board, United Way Board of Directors, Black Women's 
Network and Pabst Theater Board.
  Ms. Johnson-Odom leaves behind 3 children: Jan Johnson Carlyle, Paula 
Darling and Jay Johnson, 2 grandchildren: Amber Brown and Ellis 
Johnson, 8 great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and 
friends to mourn her passing. She leaves a strong legacy of leadership 
for her children and grandchildren to model.
  Mr. Speaker, Marlene was my friend and a Milwaukee and Wisconsin 
treasure and I valued her service to the 4th Congressional District. I 
urge you and my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join 
me in a salute to the late Marlene Johnson-Odom.