[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 50 (Thursday, March 22, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                 TRIBUTE TO COURTLIN La'SHAWN ARRINGTON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2018

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of 
a young student leader and bright light in the Birmingham community, 
Courtlin La'Shawn Arrington. Courtlin was a native of Birmingham, 
Alabama, and a senior at Huffman High School who passed in a tragic act 
of gun violence on March 7, 2018. Courtlin was an outstanding student, 
with an engaging personality and a big heart. I speak for Birmingham 
when I say that we are devastated by her loss. Courtlin was a part of 
our community and she will be greatly missed.
   Courtlin was born on April 17, 2000 to Tynesha Tatum and Courtney 
Arrington at Cooper Green Hospital in Birmingham, AL. She was educated 
in the Birmingham City School System and was a graduating Senior at 
Huffman High School. Courtlin had dreams of becoming a nurse. According 
to her family members, nursing was a family career and Courtlin had 
dreamed of being a nurse since she was very young. Just a few months 
shy of graduation, Courtlin planned to work as a nurse's assistant 
until she earned her RN. The faculty, students and staff of Huffman 
High School remember Courtlin as a constant source of enthusiasm, 
intelligence, and beauty both inside and out. They believed there was 
no limit to what she may have achieved.
   Her sister Tamera Tatum said Courtlin never had any doubt that she 
would become a nurse after graduation, and that whatever she put her 
mind to, she was able to achieve. Courtlin had the same unstoppable 
attitude. She believed that anything was possible with the right 
attitude and hard work. Before her tragic death, Courtlin was on the 
road to living her dreams, and had even received acceptance letters 
from several colleges.
   Outside of the classroom, Courtlin was more than a dedicated student 
and aspiring nurse. To her friends, she will be remembered as an 
exceptional, loving person who cared deeply about the people around 
her. Courtlin was a beloved sister to her siblings, brother and sister 
Gera'Mich and Tamera, lovingly known as the ``Trio 3.'' Courtlin and 
her siblings cherished their time together, with Courtlin often taking 
on a motherly role in the group. She was fun, she was caring, and when 
she needed to, she kept her brother and sister in line.
   Courtlin relied heavily on her faith, confessing Jesus Christ as her 
Lord and Savior at a very early age. She relied on her faith in God to 
carry her through both the good and bad in life and she enjoyed 
visiting various churches in the greater Birmingham area. One of her 
favorite churches to visit was The Rock Church where Pastor Mike 
McClure taught her the importance of her Christian duties. She 
exhibited those teachings in wanting to help others. She believed her 
passion for nursing to be her life's ministry. For the community of 
Birmingham, Courtlin's passing hits especially hard, pushing students 
and adults in the area to demand something better. Courtlin's family 
hopes her death will bring change--change in school safety measures and 
more parent accountability for all children. They don't want her death 
to be in vain. They don't want another parent to have to go through the 
experience of losing their child to gun violence.
   As a Member of Congress, I believe that we have a responsibility to 
protect our schools from gun violence, accidental or otherwise. Every 
year more students and teachers, sons and daughters, and brothers and 
sisters are killed in school shootings--we need to do everything in our 
power to make this incident the last. We cannot settle for symbolic 
gestures in Congress when our children's lives are at stake. I am 
committed to working together to ensure that this type of tragedy never 
occurs again.
   Left to cherish the amazing memories of Courtlin are: loving mother, 
Tynesha Tatum; father, Courtney Arrington; stepfather, Derrick Hardy; 
sister, Tamera Tatum; brother, Gera'Mich Tatum; grandmother, Terrie 
Tatum; grandfathers, Zac Arrington and Timothy (Carolyn) Hardgrove; 
uncles, William (Shekeitha) Tatum, John Tatum and Tamarreo (Inger) 
Tatum; great uncles, Buch Tatum, William Tatum and Anthony (Ella) 
Bryant; two special cousins, Sid'Liyah Williams and Creonna Broadnax; 
special friend, Darius Craig; three best friends, Serinity, Makayla and 
Lemond; a very close family friend, Amy McClease; a host of uncles, 
aunts, cousins and other friends.
   On behalf of the 7th Congressional District, the State of Alabama, 
and this nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Courtlin 
La'Shawn Arrington--an outstanding young person who left a lasting 
impact on the community of Birmingham, Alabama.

                          ____________________