[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 175 (Monday, November 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1142-E1143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING LINDA CITCHENS DOWNING
______
HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON
of mississippi
in the house of representatives
Monday, November 14, 2022
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a
remarkable hero, Mrs. Linda Citchens Downing.
Linda Citchens Downing is the daughter of the late Mary Alice
Catchings-Broom and Eulis Broom, Sr. Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi,
she grew up the middle child of 11 siblings. Her mother, being the sole
provider for her large family, instilled in her the qualities of
discipline, hard work, and dedication to duty. Determined to set her
children up for a better life, Mary worked at the Coco-Cola Bottling
Company and cleaned homes on Saturday to provide for them. What the
family lacked in material possessions, they made up for in love and
faith. Although Mary only had an 8th grade education, she wanted to
insure her children had more access to education than she had.
After graduating high school, Linda yearned for just that goal. At
the time, her goal was to become a lawyer who provided legal
representation for the underserved; however, that course was not to be.
With little money and lacking the type of support necessary for law
school, she would find an alternate route to achieving her goal of
helping people, and that was via education. Her older sisters had
graduated from college and become teachers, and Linda decided to follow
suit.
She attended Coahoma Junior College, now Coahoma Community College,
where she served as Miss Coahoma Junior College in 1978 to 1979. In
March of 1979, she got married, and in May of that same year, she
graduated with high honor from CJC. A year later, she had her first
child. Being a wife, mother, and attending college was difficult for a
20-year-old, so Linda decided to quit Delta State University when she
became pregnant with her second daughter. She pressed on, though,
enrolling at Mississippi Valley State University soon afterwards. Not
having transportation, she commuted with one of the professors, often
taking her baby to class with her.
When one of her professors told her she wouldn't be able to finish
her degree with two babies, Linda became even more resolved to get the
job done and achieve her overarching goals of service and support to
the community. Her second daughter was born in December of 1981; by
December of 1982, she had completed her Bachelor's Degree, Cum Laude.
She began her teaching career at Oakhurst Elementary School, and in the
following years, she taught the gamut of elementary education, all
while inspiring and motivating her students to think bigger and to
desire more. She enrolled in graduate school at Delta State, receiving
a Master's Degree in Elementary Education. Shortly thereafter, she
moved up to lead teacher. Another stint at Delta State produced a
Master's degree in counseling, after which she was hired as a middle
school counselor, performing in that capacity for 7 years. Conrad
Hilton said, ``Success seems to be connected with action. Successful
people keep moving.'' And that's what Linda did. She returned to school
to study administration, and to that end, she was hired as an
elementary school principal. When that proved successful, she was
promoted to middle school principal.
She served as principal of Oakhurst Middle School for 7 years. During
her tenure, she changed the culture of the school in academics and
athletics and brought it to successful status. Linda implemented
numerous incentives such as Teacher of the Year (the teacher with the
most improved scores in standardized tests would receive $500 paid by
the principal); Most Improved of Teacher (the most improved teacher
would receive $250 paid by the principal; as well as financial
incentives (donated by stakeholders) for students scoring proficient
and advanced on state tests, and in the process, increased parental and
community support by 75 percent. As a result of her achievement as a
principal, in 2010, Linda was hired as the Secondary Curriculum
Director of the Clarksdale Public School District. In 2016, Linda
earned a Specialist degree in administration and supervision from
Arkansas State University. Finally, after 32 years of being guided by
the principles her mother imparted in her, she retired.
Linda only remained out of education for a year, returning because of
her love and respect for her vocation and the positive effects of her
actions on the world around her. Currently, she serves as the Chief
Academic Office of the Quitman County School District, where she works
full time on a part-time salary. Despite this, she has a hand in almost
all aspects of education in the district: from site visits to new
teacher training, to the organization of large-scale events on the
district's behalf. She does what she does because of love; she loves
the students, the teachers, the parents, and she is committed to
education.
At the age of 8, Linda stated cooking for her younger brothers and
sisters. This inspired a lifelong love of cooking and baking. As part
owner of 7Sisters Catering, she regular donates her food and services
to church, school,
[[Page E1143]]
and community events. She has received the Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter of
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Delta Leadership Award; the NAACP
Mother of the Year Award; The Women in the Community Award; and serves
as youth minister at the church she attends. Linda has been married to
Roy Downing for 22 years, and together they have 4 daughters and 3
grandchildren. The proverb that says, if you want to give a job to
somebody, give it to someone that already has a lot to do is a model
for Linda's life--but she does and has always gotten the job done.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs.
Linda Citchens Downing for she is the epitome of an unsung hero.
____________________