[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 31 (Friday, February 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF LYNDA CATHERINE McDOUGALD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new York

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 16, 2018

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and 
service of Lynda Catherine McDougald, Lynda passed on December 25, 2017 
at the age of 67, after a lifetime of dedication to the East Elmhurst 
and Corona communities of Queens. Lynda's dutiful efforts in Queens 
through her leadership positions at civic organizations of all kinds 
made her a role model and an inspiration to those around her, as well 
as a model citizen who represents the very best of what it means to be 
a member of our community. Lynda's experiences as an activist began in 
1963 when her parents took her to the March on Washington, and soon 
after she participated in the first New York City Board of Education 
Sit-in. Thus, Lynda understood early in her life the power of community 
organization as an effective tool for bringing about real and righteous 
change.
  In 1978 Lynda became one of the very first members of the Curtis 
Street Block Association, where she would eventually serve multiple 
terms as the association's president. Lynda also served several terms 
as president of both the East Elmhurst-Corona Civic Association and the 
Frederick Douglass Democratic Association. In addition to leading these 
influential groups during her life, Lynda was also an executive board 
member on the Community Planning Board #3 as well as the Jerome 
Hardeman Sr. Child Care Center board. Lynda was a participant of the 
115th Precinct Council, a member of the Corona-East Elmhurst N.A.A.C.P. 
chapter, and a member of the Valley Brook Community Church Married 
Couples Ministry. Lynda was well known for her work within the Couples 
Ministry at the Antioch Baptist Church of Corona along with her husband 
of 40 years, Thomas McDougald.
  Lynda grew up on 104th Street between Northern Boulevard and 32nd 
Avenue and began working at the age of 18 at the Equitable. She 
continued to work tirelessly in addition to her community involvements 
and finally retired in late 2016 from her position of Parent 
Coordinator at Thurgood Marshall High School. Lynda was perfectly 
suited for the position of Parent Coordinator, a job she performed with 
great care and love. With her abundant warmth and kindness, it is no 
surprise that she collected lifelong friends everywhere she went.
  When Lynda and Thomas physically left the Queens community in 2016, 
moving to Laurel, Maryland to be closer to their children, there can be 
no doubt that our community lost an immense force for positive civic 
engagement. Unsurprisingly, within a year of living in Laurel Lynda was 
already attending local political and civic events and looking for ways 
to move forward in her commitment to public service, although accolades 
never factored into the reasons Lynda worked on behalf of those around 
her.
  Lynda is survived by her husband, Thomas; daughters Alicia and 
Jennifer; son, Ruxton; granddaughter Aria; Son-in-law, Kenton; sisters 
Adrienne and Vivienne; nieces Larinda and Janeene; nephews Evan, 
Conrad, Marlon, Coby, and Keemen. Lynda was a woman of elegance, grace, 
joy, hope, charity, love, and action. Mr. Speaker, Lynda's lifelong 
commitment to serving her community and loving her family and so many 
friends was, and should continue to be, an inspiration to all of us. I 
ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of Lynda 
C. McDougald. May she rest in peace.

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