[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23386-23387]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



REMEMBERING THE LIVES OF REVEREND CHARLES H. SHYNE, JR., AND HIS WIFE, 
                       MRS. VERLENA PRUITT SHYNE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, there were 16,653 alcohol-related 
fatalities in the year 2000, 40 percent of the total traffic fatalities 
for that year. Driving under the influence of alcohol continues to be 
one of our major domestic problems and issues and we must continue to 
work towards finding lasting solutions to this major problem.
  About a week ago, a driver under the influence of alcohol smashed out 
the lives of two of my community's most beloved citizens, Reverend 
Charles H. Shyne, Junior, and his wife of 54 years, Mrs. Verlena Pruitt 
Shyne. Reverend Shyne, at the time of his death, was serving as pastor 
of the Hamlet-Isom Christian Methodist Episcopal Church on West 
Division Street in Chicago. Mrs. Verlena Pruitt Shyne was a retired 
teacher who had worked for the Chicago public schools and other 
districts, who at the time of her death

[[Page 23387]]

was serving as first lady of Hamlet-Isom and providing voluntary 
leadership to many local church initiatives and programs as well as 
denominational activities and functions.
  Reverend and Mrs. Shyne were both college educated, he at Grambling 
High School, Central State University, Roosevelt University in Chicago, 
and received his seminary training at Payne Theological Seminary in 
Wilberforce, Ohio. Mrs. Shyne also attended Grambling High School and 
graduated from Roosevelt University with a degree in early childhood 
education and taught for 15 years in the Chicago public school system 
and retired in 1999.
  She was the first lady of Hamlet-Isom CME Church and served on the 
missionary and stewardess boards. She was past president of the 
Ministers Spouses of the Chicago District. Mrs. Shyne is survived by 
two sisters, Ida Mae and Mildred Gipson, and one brother-in-law, Mr. 
Clarence Mamone. She loved and was loved by children and devoted much 
of her life and work to them.
  Before coming to Hamlet-Isom, Reverend Shyne served as pastor of 
Beede Chapel CME Church in Ripley, Ohio; Cleaves Temple in Omaha, 
Nebraska; and Central CME Church in Detroit, Michigan, where he also 
served as pastor of Bray Temple and director of Bray Temple Daycare 
Center. He was subsequently appointed presiding elder of the Chicago 
District, Southeast Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin Conference in 
1985.
  After several years of service in that capacity, he was pastor of 
Jubilee Temple. He retired in 1999, but agreed to serve as supply 
pastor at Hamlett Isom, where he remained until his untimely and tragic 
death.
  He is survived by one brother, Joe Shyne of Shreveport, Louisiana, 
and three sisters, Ozeal Brown of Washington, D.C., Mildred Bennett of 
Grambling, Louisiana, and Florence Bowers of Washington, D.C., and 
three brothers-in-law, Reverend Arlester Brown, Benny Bennett, and the 
Honorable Judge Shelli F. Bowers.
  The lives of Reverend and Mrs. Charles H. Shyne, Jr. will be 
cherished by all of us who knew them, and especially their seven loving 
children, five daughters and two sons: Gregory Shyne of Arlington, 
Virginia; Sharon Bowman of Detroit, Michigan; Jacqueline Robertson of 
Southfield, Michigan; Charlotte Shyne of Chicago, Illinois; Howard 
Shyne of Fairfax, Virginia; Robin Reddick of Memphis, Tennessee; and 
Rosalind Curry of Chicago.
  Also cherishing their memories are one son-in-law, Michael Robinson, 
husband of Jacqueline; 11 grandchildren, Nicole White, Tracy Bowman, 
Leslie Bowman, Damien and Jason Shyne, Jessica Curry, Jennifer and 
Janis Robertson, Iris, Rose and Samuel Roddick; three great 
grandchildren, Elijah Herron, Dylan, and Donovan White, and a host of 
nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
  Mr. Speaker, here is another example of where two outstanding 
citizens who have devoted their lives to serving others have had their 
own lives cut short as a result of overuse of alcohol while operating a 
mechanized vehicle, an individual driving without any concern for the 
safety and welfare of others.
  We must all join together to find more effective solutions to this 
problem of people driving under the use of alcohol.
  We commend the Shynes for their outstanding work on behalf of 
humankind.
  Mr. Speaker, another subject, I too just want to acknowledge that 
today is indeed World AIDS Day. I join with all of those who have 
spoken relative to the tremendous need to make sure that every effort 
is made to continue to supply resources, come up with programs and 
activities to make sure that we combat this deadly disease.
  Mr. Speaker, as we recognize the 13th anniversary of World AIDS Day, 
it is noted that the theme for this years Day is; I care. Do you? Mr. 
Speaker, yes, we care. World AIDS Day emerged from the call by the 
World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention 
in January 1988 to open channels of communication, strengthen the 
exchange of information and experience, and forge a spirit of social 
tolerance. Since then, it has received the support of many notable 
organizations world-wide. Notably, the AIDS campaign started on 
September 1, 2001, and ends on December 1, 2001, which is World AIDS 
Day.
  Every single day more than 8,000 people die of AIDS. Every hour 
almost 600 people become infected and every single minute, a child dies 
with the virus. World-wide, the AIDS epidemic has become an extremely 
difficult battle to combat. While many nations' health care systems lag 
behind the increasing demand for the supply of drugs that treat AIDS 
and the virus associated with the disease. Many of the infected cannot 
afford the drugs or may not be able to obtain insurance that will 
assist during the treatment of the disease. We must continue to visit 
the issue with extreme importance and caution. Before the terrorist 
attacks, we were making progress to develop strategies to combat and 
control the spread of AIDS. We must continue to work with that same 
passion while balancing the importance of our country's security. 
Today, more than 40 million people are now living with the virus. A 
vast majority of these victims are from sub-Saharan Africa, where the 
spread of AIDS is moving at an alarming rate. Other countries such as 
Asia, Eastern Europe and parts of the Caribbean have experienced the 
hardship of the disease's progression.
  As the spread of AIDS grows, the importance of treatment must be made 
a top priority. Now more than ever, more pregnant women are carrying 
the disease affecting their unborn children. The future of the World's 
children depends on how precise we are in our judgment, our prognosis 
and our preparation in the fight against AIDS. Over the past 20 years, 
AIDS have claimed the lives of 58 million people, killing 22 million of 
them. ``Safe-Sex'' messages are simply not enough. A combined effort of 
education, realization and information is the only answer to detour the 
spread of the disease.
  I urge that we spare no effort to combat this dreadful nuisance.

                          ____________________