[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 146 (Thursday, September 19, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ELISE ROXANN RHODES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. TIMOTHY M. KENNEDY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 2024

   Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of Elise Roxann Rhodes, who passed away on September 9, 2024. Known as 
``Lesa'' to many, Ms. Rhodes was a cherished pillar of our community 
and brought joy to all those who knew her.
  Born on February 13, 1965, in Buffalo, New York, Ms. Rhodes was 
raised by her parents Roosevelt and Frances Arlene Rhodes in the 
Central Park neighborhood. She attended Buffalo Public School No. 61 
St. Joseph's Catholic Academy, and Archbishop Carroll High School 
before attending and graduating from Lafayette High School in 1983. 
While at Lafayette High School, Ms. Rhodes attended the Buffalo 
Vocational Technical Center, where she discovered her interest in 
healthcare. Afterward, Ms. Rhodes attended D'Youville University in 
pursuit of a career in nursing. She graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor 
of Science Degree in Nursing and in 1995 with a Master of Science 
Degree in Community Health Nursing.
  Ms. Rhodes worked tirelessly as a nurse, providing exceptional care 
to her patients as a Registered Nurse, Clinical Nursing Professor, 
Program Director, academic advisor at the North Carolina Agricultural 
and Technical State University, and an advocate for underserved 
communities. Outside of her career, she was a member of the Parish 
Nurse Ministry of Western New York, as well as a volunteer for the 
Black Student Union at D'Youville University, advisor for the Minority 
Nurses Association at the State University of New York at Buffalo, and 
member of the Buffalo School Health Advisory Board.
  As an advocate for her community, Ms. Rhodes found numerous ways to 
give back. She provided health education information during the City of 
Buffalo's annual Juneteenth and Kwanzaa Festivals. She participated in 
marches, demonstrations, and meetings to promote health equity and 
equal treatment, access, education, and rights for minority 
communities, especially Black and Latino communities. Because of her 
steadfast commitment to serving others, Ms. Rhodes was inducted as an 
Honorary Mother of Ka in Malika Kambe Umfazi Sorority, Inc.
  Furthermore, Ms. Rhodes remained deeply committed to her faith. She 
was a faithful member of Elim Christian Fellowship, as well as a member 
of the Health Education Ministry in which she coordinated a project to 
make the entrance of the church fully accessible for individuals with 
physical disabilities. Ms. Rhodes also helped develop screening 
protocols for COVID-19 and acquired AED and Narcan stations at the 
church. Additionally, Ms. Rhodes served as the Administrative 
Coordinator for the Christian Education Ministry, where she was 
responsible for creating informational pamphlets and operational 
manuals for the Kingdom Growth Institute.
  Ms. Rhodes was the loving daughter of Roosevelt and Frances Arlene 
Rhodes, cherished sister of Sonja Sidell Rhodes and Vonetta Tashika 
Rhodes, dear step-daughter of Faith Moore-Rhodes and step-sister of 
Ashley Rhodes, Briana Rochelle Rhodes, and Valerie Nicole Moody, and 
devoted niece, cousin, aunt, and godmother to many more.
  Today, Ms. Rhodes is remembered as a hard-working woman of God, who 
put the needs of others first and worked to make her community a more 
healthy, equitable place. Please join me in honoring Ms. Elise Roxann 
Rhodes for her lifetime of dedication to service, and faith.

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