[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 86 (Thursday, May 18, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E671-E672]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MARGARET R. GAITER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2017

  Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to pay tribute to 
a longtime friend and one of the finest women I have ever known.
  Margaret Gaiter recently passed away on May 12, 2017 at the age of 
91. I was honored to know Mrs. Gaiter and her late Husband, Felix. They 
both helped me as a young attorney by giving me the privilege of 
representing their business. Mrs. Gaiter had always been very kind to 
me and was a person who treated everyone with love and respect.
  A 1947 graduate of Knoxville College, Ms. Gaiter worked for the 
Knoxville Housing Authority in the 1950s and 1960s where she helped 
families relocate from dilapidated homes and buildings. She also worked 
for the Knox County Public School System's parent involvement program 
which she retired from in 1988.
  A member of Rogers Memorial Baptist Church in Knoxville, she served 
as minister of music for the church for over three decades. Mrs. Gaiter 
always lived her life by the Golden Rule.
  In 2007, Mrs. Gaiter and her late husband Felix were awarded the 
Knoxville Area Urban

[[Page E672]]

League's Whitney M. Young, Jr. Lifetime Award for their work on social 
justice and civil rights issues. This speaks to the role she played as 
a leader in her community.
  In 2007, after the Knoxville News-Sentinel wrote a very nice series 
of articles about Felix and Margaret Gaiter, I wrote a letter to the 
paper commending it for doing so. In my letter I stated: ``The Gaiters 
have touched thousands of lives in kind and positive ways and have set 
an outstanding example for everyone. This Nation is a better place 
today because of Felix and Margaret Gaiter.''
  My wife Lynn went to visit Mrs. Gaiter a few weeks ago when she found 
out Margaret might possibly be nearing her death. Lynn and I send our 
condolences to Mrs. Gaiter's children and many grandchildren and great-
grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, Margaret Gaiter was a wonderful wife, mother, and 
citizen. I call her life and accomplishments to the attention of my 
Colleagues and others. This Nation would be a much better place if we 
had more people like her.

                          ____________________