[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E228-E229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO BISHOP HARRY L. SEAWRIGHT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 2018

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 133rd 
Elected and Consecrated Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal 
Church, Bishop Harry L. Seawright. After more than 30 years in 
ministry, Bishop Seawright is currently presiding prelate of Alabama's 
9th Episcopal District for the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
   Bishop Seawright was born in Swansea, South Carolina as the youngest 
child to the late Joe Nathan and Mary L. Seawright. Born into a family 
of sharecroppers, Bishop Seawright says, ``the work was hard and the 
profits were few but the family cared deeply for one another.'' Bishop 
Seawright was just five years old when his father passed away, leaving 
his mother to raise seven children alone. ``The insurance we got after 
my father passed was just enough to cover my father's casket and that 
was it,'' Bishop Seawright said. ``The next eight years after that was 
a real struggle for my family.''
   Equipped with only a ninth grade education, Mrs. Mary Seawright 
decided to relocate the family after her husband's death in hopes of 
providing her children with a better life. The decision would move them 
through six different homes over the course of the next eight years. 
``My mother was a praying woman,'' Bishop Seawright said. ``She had a 
lot of faith and courage.'' His mother took on various domestic jobs in 
order to facilitate her children's growth. She stressed to her children 
that with faith, education and hard work anything was possible.
   His mother's passion for education became a driving force for Bishop 
Seawright, who with the help of his family, enrolled at Benedict 
College in South Carolina. Bishop Seawright says it was during his 
sophomore year of college while working with a student Christian 
organization that he first heard his call to ministry. He began 
speaking at Vespa services on January 23, 1977.
   After graduating from Benedict College with his Bachelor's degree in 
Business Administration, he enrolled at the Howard University School of 
Divinity, where he received both his Master of Divinity and Doctor of 
Ministry degrees. Following graduation, Bishop Seawright began his 
appointment as Interim Pastor of St. Stephen AME, in St. Matthews, SC.
   He served on the ministerial staffs of Reid Temple AME and Pilgrim 
AME, both in Washington, D.C. His pastoral appointments were: Payne 
Memorial AME, Jessup, MD; Hemingway Temple AME, Washington, D.C.; and 
Union Bethel AME, Brandywine and Temple Hills, MD. He served Union 
Bethel for 30 years, the longest tenure of any other pastor in the 
church's 130-year history.
   In 1991, Bishop Seawright led Union Bethel in the construction of a 
$1.6 million sanctuary. Union Bethel has over 50 innovative ministries. 
In 2001, Union Bethel opened a satellite church in Temple Hills, MD, 
and Union Bethel North (previously known as Union Bethel 
Intergenerational Center, Inc.--IGC) was birthed. This second church 
location holds Sunday worship services, Church School, weekly Bible 
Study and Intercessory Prayer. For nine years, Union Bethel operated 
FOCUS (For Our Children's Unity School) daycare and kindergarten. FOCUS 
students received a strong Christian and academic foundation. Union 
Bethel's ministries and services blessed thousands of people in the 
county annually. Bishop Seawright spent over 39 years in ministry, 
specializing in community leadership, church construction and 
development.
  It was early during his ministerial journey that Bishop Seawright met 
his future wife, Sherita Moon Seawright. ``She was beautiful, accepting 
and very smart,'' Bishop Seawright said. ``And she always encouraged me 
in her way.'' He was just a sophomore in college when they met and the 
two would go on to marry in 1982, two years after they started dating. 
The union brought about two beautiful children, Shari Nicole and Harry 
Matthew. ``They are my world,'' Bishop Seawright said. ``Having them 
brought love to a new meaning.''
   In 2016, after more than 30 years with Union Bethel, Bishop 
Seawright prepared to take on his new appointment in Alabama's 9th 
Episcopal District. The opportunity relocated the Bishop and his family 
to Birmingham, Alabama. The move allowed Bishop Seawright to focus on 
encouraging other pastors and also provided an opportunity to develop a 
few programs including the Life Center at Daniel Payne Plaza.
   Daniel Payne Plaza provides people struggling in the community with 
an opportunity to earn their GED and gain certifications in a multitude 
of vocational areas, including food preparation and construction. The 
goal is to transform how the 9th district serves not only the church, 
but the community. Bishop Seawright says because of his upbringing he 
understands the value of education and is determined to provide that 
opportunity to those he serves.
   Bishop Seawright has preached for over 30 years and has faithfully 
served the AME church and his community. His exemplary work has earned 
him the respect and admiration of his fellow ministers, church members, 
government and community leaders. On a personal note, I want to thank 
Bishop Seawright for his continued support and encouragement of my home 
church, the Historic Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, AL.
   On behalf of the 7th Congressional District, the State of Alabama 
and this nation, I ask my

[[Page E229]]

colleagues to join me in celebrating the many accomplishments of Bishop 
Harry L. Seawright. We pay tribute to his distinguished career for the 
betterment of the State of Alabama and extend deep appreciation for his 
exemplary service as the Presiding Prelate of the 9th Episcopal 
District.

                          ____________________