[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 175 (Monday, November 14, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8491-H8492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF DR. MATTELIA BENNETT GRAYS

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of Dr. 
Mattelia Bennett Grays.
  I wear white today, having just come from Houston and celebrating her 
life as the International 18th president of Alpha Kappa Alpha and a 
major leader in The Links organization; what a remarkable woman, a 
woman of her era, 91 years old; graduated from Dillard, the University 
of Michigan, and Pacific University with a doctorate degree, a strong 
and vivacious woman, elegant but, as well, determined to teach children 
a better way.
  A pioneering civil rights leader who, in fact, provided Alpha Kappa 
Alpha chartered groups on schools that were majority not integrated but 
majority Anglo, if you will, institutions that were not historically 
Black colleges. But she was strong and wanted to present a wonderful 
opportunity for young women, wanted them to have the same kind of 
leadership that she did.

[[Page H8492]]

  She was the daughter of a preacher and a wonderful mother that 
invested in her the love of faith in God; and she was a person who 
benefited so many young people in her era and in her time.
  Yes, this fierce lover of life, strong, determined leader, has now 
taken her wings, and I was pleased to be at her homegoing service to be 
able to honor her daughter Karen, her brother, Cornel, and Joan, her 
sister, grandson, Kristopher, his wife, and their children, and all her 
other relatives.
  I was delighted that the mayor of the city of Houston named this day, 
November 14, 2022, as Dr. Mattelia Grays Day. I am here to honor her on 
the floor of the House. May she rest in peace. May her spirit continue 
to lift us up as we celebrate our 18th international president, Dr. 
Grays, as she rests in peace and goes home to join her honey-do, her 
husband.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and praise Dr. Mattelia Bennett Grays 
for a life well lived--where she was dedicated to public service 
through education and was a member of the renowned Alpha Kappa Alpha 
(AKA) Sorority Incorporated.
  Dr. Mattelia Bennett Grays was a remarkable woman, a mother, a 
community leader, and a woman of God who passed away this month at the 
age of 91.
  Dr. Bennett Grays was the 18th International President of Alpha Kappa 
Alpha (AKA) Sorority Incorporated serving from 1970 to 1974.
  Dr. Mattelia Bennett Grays was born on July 26, 1931, in Houston, 
Texas, to the Reverend Abel B. Bennett and Mrs. Delcia McNeal Bennett.
  During her formative years, Dr. Mattelia Bennett Grays and her family 
attended Pleasant Hill Baptist Church until her father built from the 
ground up a small church, St. John Missionary Baptist Church, in 
Chappell Hill, Texas.
  Dr. Mattelia Bennett Grays attended schools in the Houston 
Independent School District and graduated in 1948 as salutatorian of 
her graduating class at Booker T. Washington High School. She was 
blessed to have earned and received a full-ride scholarship to attend 
Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she thrived and 
excelled in her studies.
  Dr, Mattelia Bennett Grays pledged and was initiated into Beta 
Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She 
received her B.A. degree from Dillard University in 1952 and was 
married to Horace Wesley Grays, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, 
Incorporated that same year. A beautiful daughter, Karen Grays-Gray was 
born to this wonderful couple.
  Dr. Mattelia Bennett Grays received her M.A. degree with honors in 
special education from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, 
Michigan. She later received her Doctorate in educational 
administration from Pacific University in Sacramento, California, in 
1985. She returned to Houston to teach in the Houston Independent 
School District. After several years with HISD, she began working 
summers with the University of Houston as a supervisor for laboratory 
experiences for teachers of culturally deprived children.
  Upon graduation from the University of Michigan, Dr. Grays 
transferred her sorority membership to Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter in 
Houston, where she served as chapter president and South Central 
Regional Director. She was the youngest person ever elected as 
International President of the sorority in 1968 and was installed at 
the sorority's biennial national convention in 1970.
  A little-known fact is Dr. Grays, during the Civil Rights era, was 
instrumental and the driving force in chartering 14 undergraduate 
chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated on predominantly 
white universities. During her term as Supreme Basileus, she chartered 
a total of 56 undergraduate chapters at predominantly white 
universities.
  Dr. Mattelia Bennett Grays was preceded in death by her parents; her 
husband, Horace Grays, sisters, Barbara Jefferson, Willie Mae Sanford, 
and brother Randolph McBride.
  Dr. Mattelia Bennett Grays leaves to honor her legacy her loving 
daughter, Karen Grays-Gray (Benjamin Gray, son-in-law), her siblings, 
Cornel Joseph Jefferson, Sr., Joan Bennett McBride, a grandson, 
Kristopher John Howard (Jennifer Howard, granddaughter-in-law), and 
great-grandchildren, Karolina Austen Howard, and Kristopher John 
Howard, Jr., and a host of cousins, nephews, and niece and friends.
  Her work and deeds are most deserving of the respect, admiration, and 
commendation of the United States Congress.

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