[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H7160-H7161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING UPCOMING CENTENARIANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to recognize three 
of my constituents who are all celebrating birthday 100 very, very 
soon. Mrs. Cora Jones ``Boot'' McLeod, Mrs. Christine Johnson Umstead, 
and Mrs. Annie Belle Gilmore Rogers are all members of historic Mount 
Vernon Baptist Church located in Durham, North Carolina, pastored by my 
friend Dr. Jerome J. Washington.
  These centenarians, Mr. Speaker, will soon celebrate their birthdays, 
surrounded by family and friends. These women have committed much of 
their lives to the development of their family and community. They are 
devout Christians of the missionary baptist faith who love their 
church.
  Mrs. Cora Jones Boot McLeod was born on August 8, 1918, in Raleigh, 
North Carolina, and attended Rosenwald Schools. She started her own 
business in Durham as a professional beautician. Mrs. McLeod has spent 
all of her life encouraging her family and community to be independent 
and faithful in their pursuits. Her leadership is reflected in the 
business community and at her beloved Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 
where she served as church usher.

  Mrs. Christine Johnson Umstead was born on August 16, 1918, in 
Roxboro, North Carolina, located in Person County, just north of 
Durham. She came to Durham as a food service professional. In 
retirement, she has encouraged others to become active senior citizens 
by setting an example and providing motivation to all. Mrs. Umstead 
joined Mount Vernon in 1948 and has remained an active church member.
  Over the years, she has provided faithful leadership and fellowship 
as a Christian missionary, a member of the senior citizens 
organization, and the J.E. Best Bible Class.
  Finally, yet importantly, is Mrs. Annie Belle Gilmore Rogers. Mrs. 
Rogers was born on October 20, 1918, in Durham, and her ancestors were 
founding members of Mount Vernon Baptist Church. Over the past 100 
years, she has exemplified the value of faith, education, and 
resourcefulness.
  She attended what was then Hillside Park School, which we now know as 
Hillside High School, in Durham. She went on to become a teacher's 
assistant at C.C. Spaulding Elementary School, where she helped educate 
young minds who would go on to become future leaders.
  Mrs. Rogers recognized the value of managing her resources and 
teaching her family to do the same. She was among the first members and 
leaders of the Mount Vernon Baptist Church Credit Union, at a time when 
African Americans had few opportunities for investing their limited 
resources or borrowing money to develop individual wealth. The credit 
union stands today as the last functioning church credit union in the 
State, with members of Mrs. Rogers' family serving on its board.

                              {time}  1015

  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride this morning that I speak these 
words today from the floor of the House of Representatives. These three 
strong and powerful African American women

[[Page H7161]]

have worked and labored to empower their families and Mount Vernon 
Baptist Church into a spiritual force serving the Durham community.
  I am grateful to these remarkable women for their love of humanity 
and contributions to their community. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
wishing these three great Americans our very best wishes as they each 
celebrate 100 years of life.

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