[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 30 (Thursday, February 12, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                   REMEMBERING DR. ELIJAH WASHINGTON

 Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. President, I rise today to 
honor the extraordinary life of Dr. Elijah Washington, a native son of 
South Carolina, who dedicated his life to healing bodies and nurturing 
souls in Beaufort County.
  Dr. Washington, who passed at the age of 83, exemplified the highest 
ideals of service to his community and country. Rising from humble 
beginnings in Sheldon, SC, he pursued excellence in education at 
Morehouse College and Meharry Medical College before embarking on a 
medical career that would touch thousands of lives.
  In the early 1970s, Dr. Washington made a choice that would define 
his legacy when, after serving in the U.S. Navy, he returned home and 
served the people of rural Beaufort County with the Beaufort Jasper 
Hampton Comprehensive Health Services. At a time when malnutrition and 
healthcare disparities plagued these communities, Dr. Washington 
answered the call.
  Not only did he deliver more than 10,000 babies during his career in 
Beaufort County, for almost a decade, he was the only obstetrician-
gynecologist at the clinic in Sheldon. Dr. Washington's impact extended 
beyond the delivery room. When he joined the staff at Beaufort Memorial 
Hospital, he rose to become chief of staff and played a critical role 
in integrating the hospital's medical staff. He mentored countless 
young physicians, setting an example by treating every patient with 
dignity and compassion. Today, the BJHCHS clinic in Sheldon bears his 
name, a lasting testament to a man who made a difference in the 
Lowcountry.
  In addition to the medical field, he also lived out his calling in 
ministry. He not only tended to the physical ailments of the community, 
but as the pastor at First African Baptist Church on St. Helena Island, 
he tended to people's spiritual needs as well.
  South Carolina has lost a giant, and I ask my colleagues to join me 
in expressing our deepest condolences to Dr. Washington's family and in 
celebrating a life extraordinarily well-lived in service to 
others.

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