[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 121 (Thursday, July 23, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF DORETHEA BRANCH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD G. DAVIS

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 23, 2026

  Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize 
Dorethea Branch of La Grange who recently celebrated her 100th 
birthday.
  For a century, Mrs. Branch has exemplified the values that strengthen 
our communities: faith, perseverance, compassion, and a steadfast 
commitment to serving others. Her remarkable life stands as a testament 
to the profound difference one person can make through leadership and 
unwavering dedication.
  Born in Dudley, North Carolina, on July 5, 1926, Mrs. Branch has 
called La Grange home for nearly eight decades. Alongside her beloved 
late husband, Ira Daniel Branch, Jr., she built both a successful 
family business and a life rooted in service. Together they operated 
Branch's Grocery Store for more than half a century, creating a 
neighborhood institution that continues to serve the community today 
under her ownership.
  Mrs. Branch also devoted nearly 30 years to public service with the 
State of North Carolina. From her work as a social worker to her 
leadership as Director of Dobbs School in Kinston and later as a 
division director at the O'Berry Center in Goldsboro, she dedicated her 
career to improving opportunities and outcomes for some of our State's 
most vulnerable citizens. Her compassion, professionalism, and 
commitment earned the respect of colleagues and those whose lives she 
touched.
  Her influence reaches far beyond her professional accomplishments. 
Mrs. Branch is an active member of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church 
in La Grange. She is an Emerita Member of the Board of Mothers and a 
former president of both the Lela Moore Home Mission Circle and the 
Daughters of Ebenezer. She has also broken barriers through her civic 
leadership, becoming the first African American member of the Board of 
Trustees of UNC Health Lenoir while lending her wisdom and experience 
to numerous local and statewide boards, commissions, and community 
organizations.
  The many honors she has received over the years reflect a lifetime of 
extraordinary service. Her century of leadership reminds us that 
lasting change is built through integrity, kindness, and an unwavering 
commitment to the common good.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mrs. Branch on the 
extraordinary occasion of her 100th birthday. On behalf of the 1st 
Congressional District of North Carolina, I thank her for her lifetime 
of service and wish her continued health, happiness, and many more 
blessings in the years ahead.

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