[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 70 (Monday, April 28, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF EDNA BELLE PEMBERTON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JASMINE CROCKETT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 28, 2025

  Ms. CROCKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Edna Belle 
Pemberton, a beloved mother, grandmother, community leader, and a 
tireless advocate for positive change in the Oak Cliff community and 
beyond. Born on March 27, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, Edna was the 
youngest of nine children. After losing her mother at a young age and 
growing up in the foster care system, she became a fierce advocate for 
her community and a force for good, committed to improving the lives of 
those around her. Edna's earthly journey ended on April 13, 2025, at 
the age of 81.
  Edna met the love of her life, the late DarNell Pemberton, while 
attending church as a teenager. The couple's bond grew into a strong 
partnership, and they married on September 19, 1964. Together, Edna and 
DarNell raised four daughters and, in a remarkable act of love and 
dedication, adopted and helped raise eight of Edna's nieces, nephews, 
and young relatives. Their family of fourteen lived in California 
before relocating to Dallas, where they settled in the Oak Cliff 
neighborhood, where Edna's advocacy continued to grow.
  A dedicated voice for the people of southern Dallas, Edna began her 
career at Kmart, where she worked her way up from stockroom employee to 
management, leading various community initiatives and supply drives 
along the way. Her efforts to enact a youth curfew to improve safety, 
extend bus lines to provide better access to services, and save the 
Southwest Center Mall, formerly known as Red Bird Mall, stand as 
testament to her determination to make a positive impact on her city.
  Edna was an active member of many local organizations, including the 
Dallas chapter of the NAACP, the Martin Luther King Center, and Camp 
Wisdom Now. She was a founder of Positively Oak Cliff, a nonprofit 
coalition of entrepreneurs and community leaders, and served as a voter 
registrar and the precinct chair of her local precinct. Edna received 
several Governors' awards for her contributions to her community, and 
she was honored to serve as a torchbearer in Dallas ahead of the 1996 
Olympic Games.
  Known affectionately as ``Mrs. P,'' Edna was not only a community 
leader but a mother-figure and mentor to many. She personified her 
faith in her daily life as an active and longtime member of Concord 
Missionary Baptist Church, where she made an immeasurable impact. Her 
compassion for others, especially during times of disaster and 
financial hardship, made a lasting difference in the lives of countless 
individuals.
  Above all, Edna Pemberton cherished spending time with her family. 
Her unwavering love and support for her children, who have gone on to 
become educators, community leaders, and volunteers, serve as a shining 
example of the dedicated spirit and servant heart she poured into those 
around her. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to 
many, and her legacy of compassion, resilience, and community service 
will live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to have 
known her.
  Mr. Speaker, I offer my sincerest condolences to Edna's family, her 
friends, and the Oak Cliff and wider Dallas community. May her 
extraordinary legacy of service, love, and dedication continue to 
inspire future generations.

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