[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21173]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO MS. TESSIE REED

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2002

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Tessie Reed who was 
born on September 5, 1897 in New York City.
  Her parents, William and Mary Reed, were originally from the 
Commonwealth of Virginia. She attended school in New York City until 
the age of 9. After the death of her mother, she moved to Virginia to 
live with her maternal grandmother. Ms. Reed worked as a Nurse's Aide 
at the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital fourteen years, as well as at the movie 
theatres for some years.
  Her hobbies include poetry, church activities and gospel music. Ms. 
Reed's favorite poem is ``REST AT THE END OF MY JOURNEY'' by Sally 
Martin. Her loved ones reside in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. 
Ms. Reed has been a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Brooklyn 
since 1932. She is known, for her gospel songwriting and her musicals, 
which are prized by Cornerstone's members. One of her dearest songs is 
``Something Changed Me.'' Ms. Reed was a member of the Metropolis 
Gospel Union Choir and its President for three years. It was one of the 
first gospel choirs in Brooklyn. Ms. Reed is still a member of 
Cornerstone's Gospel Choir and she served on the Board of the Atlantic 
Terminal Senior Citizens Center. She was also a member of Queen Esther 
Chapter # 21 Eastern Stars.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Tessie Reed, who now resides at the Marcus Garvey 
Nursing Home, at the young age of 105, is more than worthy of our 
recognition today.

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