[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 30 (Thursday, February 15, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E195-E196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF MRS. LOVEY ANNA LEAVELL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 15, 2018

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the generous, 
path-breaking life of Mrs. Lovey Anna Leavell of Sandusky, Ohio. Lovey 
passed from this life on Saturday, January 22, 2018 after a short 
illness. She will be truly missed by her family and friends. Lovey was 
indefatigable.
  Lovey's involvement and commitment to her hometown of Sandusky was 
known by everyone in the area. Her life of service to her community 
started at the historic Second Baptist Church where she served as 
Church Secretary, Choir Director, teacher, and Sunday school 
superintendent. It is also here where she would meet her husband of 60 
plus years, Daniel Leavell.
  Once her children became school age and began to attend Sandusky City 
Schools she became active in the school system as well. When her 
children were young she worked for the school district as a teacher's 
aide, bus driver, and served as the Treasurer for the Sandusky Band 
Parents Association. Her dedication to the Sandusky City schools 
continued always. Even after her children graduated, she continued her 
connection to the school by working as a substitute teacher.
  Civil rights was a cause that Lovey was committed to as well. As a 
lifetime member of the Sandusky NAACP, she worked on a number of 
committees for her local branch. She would help set up meetings at 
which local politicians would be able to talk about issues dealing not 
only with civil rights, but also other important issues that impacted 
the community. Her commitment to civil rights was one of the main 
reasons she decided to become a realtor. Throughout her life she saw 
the damage that was being done to minorities due to the effects of 
redlining. It was her commitment to civil rights that made her want to 
become a realtor in order to help people obtain the American dream of 
home ownership.
  Lovey Leavell was on a first name basis with every elected official 
that represented the city of Sandusky, from local up through the 
federal level. It was not uncommon for politicians and candidates to 
call her and her husband Dan for advice. She was a lifelong Democrat, 
her views on politics were perhaps best described by Sandusky Mayor 
Dennis Murray when he said this about Lovey, ``She was never about the 
games of partisanship. She believed totally in people and in the core 
things that Democrats stand for--equality, opportunity and good 
government.''
  Later in life when most people would decide to relax and enjoy their 
retirement years, Lovey decided it was time for her to get a college 
degree. She received two degrees, associates and then bachelors, both 
from BGSU Firelands. Her time at Firelands was filled not only with 
classwork but also with trips to the United Nations in New York, 
involvement with student government, and several other groups. The 
students there would come to know her as ``Grandma Lovey''. During her 
time there she made such an impression on the students, staff, and 
faculty she was awarded the Links to Progress Award, the highest honor 
any person can receive from BGSU Firelands.
  During Lovey's final years she served on the Ohio 9th congressional 
military academy nomination committee in 2015 and 2016. She continued 
her service on the James McBride Arboretum at BGSU Firelands. She never 
stopped being a realtor or working for civil rights with the NAACP. 
Even with her impressive life accomplishments, there was one thing 
Lovey felt she was missing: a Sandusky High School diploma. It was 
something she had wanted for more than half a century. In September of 
2017 the Sandusky School Board presented her with an honorary high 
school diploma for her life time commitment to education and her 
involvement in the community.
  Lovey is survived by her husband Dan, children Dan Jr., Doug and 
Deanna, a number of grandchildren, family, and friends. We offer them 
our prayers and hope that they comfort in the wonderful memories of 
this extraordinary woman, our dear friend Lovey. She will

[[Page E196]]

be remembered with affection and gratitude for a lifetime dedicated so 
affectionately to making our part of the world a fairer and more loving 
place in which to live.

                          ____________________