[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H3674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE LIFE OF LEONA JANE BROWN FERNANDER SAMUDA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Adams) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I am honored today to stand on the floor of 
the House of Representatives to pay tribute to and to honor the life of 
a trusted friend of 4 decades, a cherished mentor, and an extraordinary 
woman of faith, Mrs. Leona Jane Brown Fernander Samuda.
  Rosie, as I knew her and she was fondly referred to by her family and 
friends, passed away on June 14, 2021.
  I extend my sympathy and condolences and prayers along with the more 
than 700,000 citizens of North Carolina's Twelfth Congressional 
District to the Brown, Fernander, Samuda families during this difficult 
time.
  Born in Alice Town, Eleuthera, Bahamas, Rosie was a woman who spoke 
her mind, never mincing words, always genuinely wise in thought and 
deeds.
  A mother, grandmother, great-grandmother who raised six children, 
five boys and one girl, she was the rock and fortress of her family.
  A matriarch to family and community, Rosie shared her many talents, 
including cooking her favorite mac and cheese to the love she and I 
both had for wearing hats.
  Rosie's glowing smile, the infectious personality that she had, and 
always a few jokes, made her a lover of people who loved her back.
  A global citizen, she never met a stranger and was genuinely 
interested in the politics of every community where she lived, from the 
Parliament in her native Bahamas to the Black community politics in 
Charlotte, North Carolina.
  Always engaging, interacting with political leaders, advocating for 
human and civil rights, Rosie never ceased to make her opinions known.
  Rosie's contributions were extensive and her lessons invaluable. 
Rosie loved children and she became an entrepreneur and a businesswoman 
who owned and operated Aunt Jane's Edu Care for preschoolers.
  Widely traveled, living in places such as Switzerland, Chippingham, 
and as a resident in my district in Charlotte, she studied and earned 
her degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
  Small in stature, Rosie was a mighty little giant who made an 
indelible impact on so many people for more than eight decades, and I 
was blessed to have known her and have her as a friend.
  Mrs. Leona Jane Brown Fernander Samuda, dedicated woman of faith, 
gained the respect of men, women, and little children, and she made 
this world much better than she found it.
  She served to fulfill the scripture in Psalm 84:10, which says: 
``Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would 
rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents 
of the wicked.''
  Rest in peace, Rosie. We love you. We miss you.

                          ____________________