[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 60 (Thursday, April 6, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING THE JOHN K. AND KATHERINE JOHNSON AUXILIARY ON ITS 50TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2023

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th 
anniversary of the John K. and Katherine Johnson Auxiliary serving the 
Regional One Health Medical Center, the Memphis-based acute care 
hospital for the Mid-South region. On November 8, 1972, 54 women of 
what is now the Presbytery of the Mid-South met to discuss how they 
might best address the health care needs of women in our community, 
touring medical facilities to assess the situation. On April 9, 1973, 
39 people gathered at Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis to sign 
the charter forming the John K. and Katherine Johnson Auxiliary, named 
after Idlewild's late pastor, a hospital chaplain, and his wife. Its 
mission was ministering to the needs of patients, assisting staff, 
promoting community health and welfare, and providing a bond of 
understanding and service for people of all races and creeds. Starting 
off with just a cart of snacks and magazines for hospital patients, the 
auxiliary grew to provide volunteers in the pediatric clinic, offer CPR 
classes, provide teen pregnancy counseling, and assist sickle cell 
patients. Over time, the auxiliary supported purchase of neo-natal 
equipment, orthopedic clinic waiting rooms, and staff education and 
training. In 1978, the auxiliary created the Mary Love Clothes Closet 
for the families of patients who arrive in Memphis with only the 
clothes on their backs. In 1983, the auxiliary created a gift shop 
which has generated more than $557,000 for various Regional One 
projects. One of the early initiatives of the auxiliary was a 1973 
request to create a chapel for prayer and meditation. Eight years 
later, in 1981, the Alice H. Davies Chapel, named for one of the early 
founders of the auxiliary, was dedicated. I want to commend the 
generations of supporters of the John K. and Katherine Johnson 
Auxiliary for their selfless commitment to meeting both the critical 
needs and the incalculable hopes of patients and their loved ones. I 
also want to congratulate all associated with the auxiliary and its 
mission on this anniversary milestone.

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