[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9632]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                      HONORING OPHELIA YOUNG PERRY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 6, 2000

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ophelia Young Perry. 
Though a native of Buckingham County, Virginia, she presently resides 
with her mother, Thelma Jones and husband, William Frank Perry Jr. in 
the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New York. They have one son, William 
Frank Perry III.
  She is an assistant to Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden, and 
serves as a liaison to the Brooklyn Christian community. She has been 
an active member of the Berean Missionary Baptist Church in Brooklyn 
for 49 years. Ophelia has a passion for her community and civic 
affairs. She is currently the president of ChurchWomen United in 
Brooklyn, an ecumenical movement of Christian women. Under Mrs. Perry's 
leadership, the membership has increased to include over 700 Christian 
women. It is the largest unit of CWU in the country.
  CWU sponsors many other activities to raise funds for contributions 
to others in need, such as it's Prison Ministry and holiday sharing 
program where 2,000 bedside bags are annually prepared and distributed 
to hospitals, nursing homes and to those who are incarcerated. The 
group also contributed to world wide church activities. In addition to 
supporting the Bedford-Stuyvesant Ambulance Service, recently CWU 
really supported the flood victims in North Carolina.
  In response to shrewd spiritual insight, Ophelia conceived the idea 
for an observance centered on ``The Seven Last Words of Christ''. For 
16 years, the ecumenical worship service has begun at 7:00 am on Good 
Friday and the attendance continues to grow. These services have been 
held in various community churches and have continued to draw over 
3,000 worshipers. Participants travel throughout the metropolitan area 
and from many other parts of the United States to attend this annual 
worship celebration.
  Ophelia Perry serves as the chairperson of the Development Committee 
of the Brooklyn Division of the Council of Churches. She is a lifetime 
member of the National Council of Negro Women, Brooklyn section. She is 
also a member of the Society for the Preservation of Weeksville. 
Ophelia has been honored and recognized for her civic work and 
achievements. Her many awards include: ``Woman of the Year''--The 
National Conference of Christians and Jews; Salute to Brooklyn Women 
Leadership Humanitarian Award--The Brooklyn Urban League; The Caribbean 
American Award--Chamber of Commerce: Outstanding Service Award--The 
Council of Churches--City of New York; ``Woman of Influence''--Brooklyn 
YWCA; Thomas R. Fortune Community Service Award--Unity Democratic Club; 
Valiant Women Award--Church Women United; The Sandy F. Ray Award; and 
The Christian Service award.
  I wish to recognize the lifelong efforts of Ophelia Young Perry, and 
wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

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