[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 104 (Thursday, June 21, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE OF MS. BESSIE ALEXANDER RUSSELL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2018

  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life 
of Ms. Bessie Alexander Russell who passed at the age of 86 on December 
7, 2017. Bessie was born in Chicago on March 4, 1931 and raised in 
Chicago's ``Old Town'' neighborhood. She was a graduate of William H. 
Wells Community Academy High School, commonly known as Well's High 
School and began a life in administration, civics and organizing. I had 
the pleasure of knowing Bessie during several of my campaigns for the 
County Board and Alderman, block club meetings, community organizing 
activities and political rallies.
  Bessie had a long and distinguished career in administration and is a 
dedicated servant of the community. Bessie served as secretary for 
Chicago City Colleges for 30 years before becoming a Bursar at Crane 
College (currently known as Malcolm X College). During her tenure with 
the City College's system, she served as the first African American 
president of the Local 1708 labor union. In addition, Bessie was also 
Chicago's first Human Relations Commissioner on Race, Gender and 
Sexuality, where she was appointed by Mayor Harold Washington and 
retained by Mayor Richard Daley.
  Bessie was the wife of the late Paul H. Russell and devoted mother of 
Paula M. Russell and three late infant sons, all named Paul. Her sons 
all developed a similar fatal lung condition--Bessie donated their 
bodies to research. Because of this noteworthy and selfless act, this 
research was instrumental in a curable treatment in the utero for this 
lung condition.
  A man once said, ``Death leaves a headache that no one can heal; Love 
leaves a memory that no one can steal.'' So, Mr. Speaker, I ask the 
Congress, the family and friends to continue to honor Ms. Bessie 
Russell's memory for love for the Chicagoland community.

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