[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 141 (Friday, September 1, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CELEBRATING REVEREND DOCTOR CHARLES EDWARD MCCOLLUM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD G. DAVIS

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 1, 2023

  Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and 
pay tribute to a visionary, dynamic, and God-fearing Pastor who has 
served Halifax County, North Carolina, for 50 years.
  Since 1973, when he was licensed to preach, Rev. Dr. Charles Edward 
McCollum has immersed himself in teaching and preaching the powerful 
word of God to countless individuals.
  For nearly 50 years, Rev. Dr. McCollum has been the Senior Pastor of 
Oak Grove PromiseLand Ministries in Littleton and Piney Grove Baptist 
Church in Halifax. During his pastorate, these churches have grown 
spiritually and numerically.
  Beyond church leadership, Rev. Dr. McCollum's impact on the greater 
community has been significant. He served as Executive Director of the 
Halifax County Black Caucus. Under his guidance, the Caucus achieved 
substantial milestones in education and civic engagement.
  In addition, his dedication to education has been exemplary, 
evidenced by his unselfish service on the Halifax County Board of 
Education, 2 earned doctorate degrees, and the establishment in 1991 of 
Eastern Carolina Christian College in Roanoke Rapids, NC.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud Rev. Dr. McCollum's decades of service in 
adult corrections. He made a lasting difference as an educator in the 
Virginia Department of Corrections, helping inmates improve their 
literacy skills and prepare for re-entry into society. While serving as 
a transition specialist for the Department, he wrote many project plans 
that are now part of the correctional program, notably the Straight 
Project.
  In 1984, Rev. Dr. McCollum's advocacy led to changes in employment 
practices at courthouse offices in Halifax County, where the offices 
employed a more diverse workforce. That same year, he and 18 other 
plaintiffs prevailed in a lawsuit that changed the method of electing 
county commissioners from an at-large voting system to a district 
system, thus enabling African Americans to elect commissioners of their 
choice.
  In 2016, Rev. Dr. McCollum led the effort to get the supplemental tax 
on the ballot in Halifax County, which later passed, and the revenue 
reinvested into the community. The additional funding from it bridged 
the gap between state funding and what was needed for the Halifax 
County Schools to operate efficiently. Some outcomes included hiring 
teachers and support staff and purchasing new curriculum materials, 
activity buses, athletic uniforms and supplies, playground equipment, 
and technology upgrades. His advocacy also led to the recognition of 
Sarah Keys Evans as a civil rights trailblazer and the creation of the 
Sarah Keys Evans Plaza in Roanoke Rapids, NC.
  Rev. Dr. McCollum has aired a weekly radio show called Real Talk on 
WMCY in Roanoke Rapids. The show exposed police brutality, the drug 
epidemic, environmental justice, and the existence of coal ash in 
Halifax County.
  Rev. Dr. Charles Edward McCollum's life has been 1 of selflessness, 
leadership, and profound impact. I join the chorus of others in 
celebrating him for his outstanding contributions to the citizens of 
Halifax County, the First Congressional District of North Carolina, and 
the Nation. I eagerly anticipate his continued positive influence in 
the years ahead.

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