[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 15, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2920-H2921]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING J. MASON DAVIS

  (Ms. SEWELL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary 
life, legacy, and service of J. Mason Davis, an attorney from Alabama, 
a towering figure in Alabama's legal community, and a steadfast 
advocate for justice, equality, and human dignity.
  Mr. Davis passed away on April 4, 2026, at the age of 90, a profound 
loss for Alabama and for all who believe in the power of law to advance 
fairness and opportunity.
  Mr. Davis pursued his education with distinction and determination, 
graduating from Talladega College and later earning his law degree from 
Howard University School of Law.
  Mr. Davis then returned to Alabama. He entered a legal landscape 
defined by segregation and entrenched inequality. Rather than accept 
those conditions, he challenged them. He became one of the first Black 
attorneys to practice in Birmingham's courts, and he used his skill, 
courage, and conviction to represent individuals and communities who 
had long been denied a voice.
  Beyond the courtroom, Mr. Davis was a mentor, a teacher, and a 
bridge-builder. He served in leadership roles at one

[[Page H2921]]

of Alabama's most respected law firms and helped open doors of 
opportunity for young attorneys to follow in his footsteps. His 
contributions were numerous.
  Alabama is a better place because J. Mason Davis lived, worked, and 
served there. The legal profession is better because he insisted that 
it live up to its highest ideals. Our Nation is better because he never 
stopped believing in the possibility of a more just and inclusive 
society.
  To his family, friends, colleagues, and all he shaped by his wisdom 
and generosity, we extend our deepest condolences. May they find 
comfort in knowing that his legacy endures in the laws that he changed, 
in the lives that he touched, and in the generation he led.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary life and 
legacy of J. Mason Davis, an Alabama icon and a national treasure.
  I rise today to honor the extraordinary life, legacy, and service of 
Attorney J. Mason Davis, a towering figure in Alabama's legal community 
and a steadfast advocate for justice, equality, and human dignity. Mr. 
Davis passed away on April 4, 2026, at the age of 90, a profound loss 
for Alabama and for all who believe in the power of the law to advance 
fairness and opportunity.
  J. Mason Davis was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1932, at a time 
when the promise of equal justice under law was far from reality. Yet, 
from a young age, he believed deeply in that promise. He pursued 
education with determination, graduating from Talladega College and 
later earning his law degree from Howard University School of Law in 
Washington D.C.
  When J. Mason Davis returned to Alabama, he entered a legal landscape 
defined by segregation and entrenched inequality. Rather than accept 
those conditions, he challenged them. He became one of the first Black 
attorneys to practice in Birmingham's courts, and he used his skill, 
courage, and conviction to represent individuals and communities who 
had long been denied a voice.
  Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, he worked on cases that helped 
dismantle discrimination and expand opportunities for African Americans 
in the state.
  He never sought the spotlight. He sought justice. And he pursued it 
with a quiet strength that earned him the respect of colleagues, 
judges, and community leaders spanning several generations.
  Beyond the courtroom, J. Mason Davis was a mentor, a teacher, and a 
bridge-builder. He served in leadership roles at one of Alabama's most 
respected law firms, helping open doors of opportunity for young 
attorneys to follow in his footsteps. He chaired numerous 
organizations, including the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, 
the United Way of Central Alabama, and the Talladega College Board of 
Trustees, and served as a member of many legal and corporate boards 
throughout the state.
  His contributions were recognized widely. In 2013, he received the 
NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award for Human and Civil Rights, and in 
2016, J. Mason Davis was officially inducted into the Birmingham 
Business Hall of Fame.
  Perhaps his greatest legacy is the example he set--an example of 
integrity, perseverance, and unwavering dedication to the ideals of 
equality and justice.
  Alabama is a better place because J. Mason Davis lived, worked, and 
served there. The legal profession is better because he insisted that 
it live up to its highest ideals. And our nation is better because he 
never stopped believing in the possibility of a more just and inclusive 
society.
  To his family, friends, colleagues, and all who were shaped by his 
wisdom and generosity, we extend our deepest condolences. May they find 
comfort in knowing that his legacy endures--in the laws he helped 
change, in the lives he touched, and in the generations of leaders he 
inspired.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary life and 
legacy of J. Mason Davis, not only for what he accomplished, but for 
what he made possible.
  May his legacy continue to guide Alabama and our Nation for years to 
come.

                          ____________________