[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                    HONORING GERALDINE JAMES PETTIE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 25, 2018

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember Geraldine James 
Pettie, a longtime Washingtonian, a dedicated public servant, a devoted 
spouse, a loving mother, an attentive grandmother and great 
grandmother, a cherished sister, an adored friend and neighbor. Mrs. 
Pettie passed away quietly on July 18, 2018, at her home in Washington, 
DC at the age of 91.
  I never had the honor of meeting Mrs. Pettie, but my chief of staff, 
Victor Castillo, has shared many wonderful stories and anecdotes with 
me about his wonderful, welcoming neighbor. In tribute to Mrs. Pettie's 
life efforts and to share with my colleagues and the nation the story 
of Geraldine Pettie, I would like to include in the Record the obituary 
memorializing her which was included in program for her funeral 
services at Mount Zion United Methodist Church today.

          A Celebration of the Life of Geraldine James Pettie

                       May 5, 1927-July 18, 2018

       Geraldine Audrey James Pettie was born May 5, 1927, in 
     Sandy Level, Virginia. She was the first child of the late 
     Morris E. and Veatrice Jackson James. Geraldine was united in 
     marriage to the late Lynwood E. Pettie on August 18, 1950, 
     and to that union two children were born.
       Gerry, as she was affectionately known, attended the public 
     schools of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and received her 
     Bachelor's degree from Virginia State College in 1946. She 
     taught in the Pittsylvania County school system until moving 
     to Washington, DC, in 1951. It was then Gerry began her 
     career with the Department of Defense, retiring from the 
     National Security Agency in 1979 after 27 years of service. 
     Although Gerry could not share details about her 
     responsibilities at NSA, the pride she felt for the work she 
     did was obvious.
       Upon moving to Washington, DC, Gerry joined Mount Zion 
     United Methodist Church and was an active member until the 
     untimely death of her husband in 1989. She also maintained 
     her affiliation with the Ridgeway United Methodist Church 
     back home.
       After retiring, she was able to dedicate more time to her 
     greatest joys--her grandchildren, the Kappa Alpha Psi 
     Silhouettes, and antiquing. Gerry and Lynwood loved finding 
     and restoring antiques. They traveled extensively in pursuit 
     of their hobby and together opened a small antique store--LYN 
     & GERRY--in Maryland. Some of their antiquing trips were 
     combined with Kappa and Silhouette activities, often arriving 
     at conference hotels with a car packed full of their 
     ``treasures''.
       Gerry devoted herself to her family. Her daughters and 
     grandchildren were the pride of her life. Gerry was always 
     armed with a collection of her kids' business cards and 
     graduation photos which she proudly shared. In her final 
     years, her greatest happiness came from the years spent 
     living with her devoted sister, Lucille, in Gretna, Virginia. 
     Lucille's in-laws embraced Gerry and treated her as one of 
     their own. They became known as the ``Golden Girls'' and 
     everyone around town enjoyed witnessing their obvious love 
     for each other.
       Gerry departed this life peacefully on Wednesday, July 18, 
     2018. She leaves to cherish her memory, her devoted 
     daughters, Deborah Pritchett and Jan Whitley; four 
     grandchildren, Kimberly Pritchett, Derek Whitley, Dara 
     Whitley Champ, and Dana Whitley; one great-grandchild, 
     Anthony Champ, Jr.; one sister, Lucille J. Younger; one 
     brother, Morris E. James (Rosa) and one son-in-law, Michael 
     Pritchett; one grandson-in-law, Anthony Champ; two nephews, 
     Ronald Turner (Rita) and Lindell Younger; one niece, Lisa 
     Turner; and a host of other relatives and friends.

  Mrs. Pettie was laid to rest at Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, 
Maryland alongside her beloved spouse Lynwood.

                          ____________________