[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15211]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                IN HONOR OF FOUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor and 
celebrate four African-American women.
  I would like to begin with the memoriam for Jean Ford Clayton. Jean 
Ford Clayton, a retired Cleveland police detective, died on July 8 at 
her home in University Heights, Ohio. Mrs. Clayton was an exemplary 
police officer who is credited with leveling the playing field for 
other female detectives with their male counterparts.
  In 1972, women who joined the police force were automatically 
assigned to the Women's Bureau and limited to handling cases involving 
neglected and abused children, juvenile delinquency and rape.
  Mrs. Clayton challenged this policy by filing charges of sex 
discrimination against the Cleveland Police Department with the Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission.
  As a result of Mrs. Clayton's lawsuit, the doors of opportunity were 
opened to all female police officers in roles traditionally reserved 
for men. Her tenacity and perseverance helped to change the face of law 
enforcement locally and nationally.
  After retiring from the Cleveland Police Department, Mrs. Clayton 
continued her community involvement by working with juveniles and as a 
chief investigator for the Cleveland Job Corps Center.
  In addition to her second career, Mrs. Clayton worked for 22 years as 
a counselor with the National Football League's Youth Development Camp.
  She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Eddie Clayton, two 
daughters, one son, and 16 grandchildren. Her son is deceased, and she 
is survived by 16 grandchildren.
  On a personal note, I would like to say it was through the support of 
Jean Clayton that I was able to serve well as both a judge and a 
prosecutor in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
  The second woman I would like to honor is living. Her name is Bishop 
Vashti McKenzie.
  After 213 years, the African Methodist Episcopal Church has finally 
selected a woman for the position of Bishop, Rev. Dr. Vashti McKenzie 
was elected Bishop at the A.M.E. General Conference in Cincinnati on 
July 11, 2000.
  She is a pastor of the 1,700 member Payne Memorial A.M.E. Church in 
Baltimore. Dr. McKenzie is an Ordained Itinerant Elder in African 
Methodist Episcopal Church and the Pastor of Payne Memorial A.M.E. 
Church in Baltimore City.
  The 101-year-old historic congregation has tripled in membership 
since her arrival. Under her leadership, there are 15 new ministries 
designed to enhance, enrich, inspire and meet critical needs of the 
community.
  She is the wife of Stan McKenzie, former star in the National 
Basketball Association; and they have three children, Jon-Mikael, 
Vashti-Jasmine, and Joi-Marie.
  In the November 1993 issue of Ebony Magazine, she was selected for 
the Honor Roll of Great African-American Preachers. She was selected 
after a poll of national, civic, social, religious and academic 
leaders. Her ``Ministry of Equality and Hope'' was featured in 1999 in 
Ebony Magazine. She is characterized as an electrifying speaker in an 
issue of Jet; is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College 
Park; holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Howard University. She 
earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary in 
Dayton, Ohio.
  She is a member of several service organizations. One of them, Delta 
Sigma Theta Sorority is my sorority. She is the granddaughter and 
namesake of one of the founders of Delta Sigma Theta, the late Vashti 
Turley Murphy. She serves as the spiritual leader of more than 175,000 
college-trained women as the national chaplain. She has traveled 
considerably and continues to do so across the United States.
  As one of the newest bishops in the A.M.E. Church, Bishop McKenzie 
will be presiding over the 18th Episcopal District, which includes 
portions of Southern Africa.
  The last two young women that I would like to celebrate today, Mr. 
Speaker, are Serina and Venus Williams, the winners of Wimbledon, Venus 
as the singles winner and Serina and Venus as the doubles winner.
  What better role models could we have for young women throughout this 
country than to see these two fantastic young women who have been 
successful in the tennis arena?
  I am very proud to be able to stand today, Mr. Speaker, to celebrate 
four strong African-American women.

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