[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 17 (Monday, January 27, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S393]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REMEMBERING ELWYNDA KOWAN PATTERSON CHAPMAN

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
memory of the late Elwynda Kowan Patterson Chapman of Mitchellville, 
MD.
  Mrs. Chapman was born in Kinston, NC, to loving parents Courtney L. 
Patterson and Bernice I. White Patterson. After attending local 
schools, Mrs. Chapman continued her education at North Carolina Central 
University and later received her masters in library science from the 
Catholic University of America in 1980.
  Mrs. Chapman pursued her passion with a tremendous career as a 
library scientist, serving the Federal Government over countless years 
at the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the 
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Census Bureau, 
the National Agricultural Library, and the U.S. Department of 
Transportation. Her commitment to her career culminated in her 
participation in the founding of the U.S. Department of Homeland 
Security's Federal Library and Information Network, which has been 
instrumental to the organization and sharing of relevant security data 
between agencies.
  In addition to her robust career, Mrs. Chapman was a pillar of her 
community. From 1988, Elwynda and her husband ``Mayor'' David Chapman 
were deeply involved in the Lake Arbor Community. Above all, Mrs. 
Chapman had a paramount devotion to the First Baptist Church of 
Glenarden, where she is best remembered for her love of worship and 
praise songs, involvement within the Sunday school, and faith community 
outreach efforts.
  Mrs. Chapman's memory is cherished by all those who knew her, but 
especially by her family. She is survived by her husband David, with 
whom she was childhood sweethearts and married for 62 years, and her 
children and grandchildren, who will miss her dearly. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in offering heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Chapman's 
family for her service. She will be sorely missed by all, but her 
lasting legacy will be forever etched into our community.

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