[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E163-E164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING JOSEPHINE BARBEE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN W. MANNION

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 2025

  Mr. MANNION. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Josephine Barbee, 
mother of UAW International Representative Mark Barbee, who resides in 
my district in Syracuse, NY.
  Born on July 23, 1939, Josephine Barbee was a devoted mother and a 
true pioneer in early childhood education and community service. Along 
with her brother, Dr. Bishop Leonard R. Williams--pastor of Zion 
Holiness Church and Bishop of the Great Lakes District--she played a 
critical role in designing,

[[Page E164]]

producing, and implementing vital community programs across Newark, New 
Jersey.
  Her work included the creation of summer programs, lunch initiatives, 
and a food bank that have helped meet the needs of families and 
children in underserved communities, ensuring they had access to 
essential resources during difficult times.
  Josephine Barbee also founded the M.E. Stith Daycare Center at Zion 
Holiness Church, named in honor of her aunt. This daycare center became 
a cornerstone of early childhood development in Newark, serving as a 
nurturing and educational environment for generations of young 
children.
  Her commitment to increasing community access to vital services 
continued throughout her career with the Essex County Division of 
Welfare, where she worked to improve socio-economic conditions in the 
community. Even after her official retirement in 1985 she continued to 
support youth programs that still serve the greater Newark community 
today.
  While Josephine Barbee passed away on February 1, 2025, her legacy is 
carried on by her son, Mark Barbee, who shares his mother's commitment 
to serving others, ensuring that her profound impact remains alive and 
well in the lives of those she touched. We are fortunate that Mark 
continues to carry the torch she lit in my hometown of Syracuse, NY.

                          ____________________