[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25479]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE MAE CROMARTIE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 8, 2005

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a guiding 
light in Columbia, South Carolina that will be deeply missed. Charlie 
Mae Mays Harrison Cromartie passed away on Sunday, November 6, 2005, 
but her legacy will remain with us forever.
  Charlie Mae Cromartie was born in Greenwood County, South Carolina to 
John Henry and Myrtle Harrison Mays. She was the niece of renowned 
educator, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays. She was educated at Bettis Academy and 
earned her RN degree with a concentration in psychiatric nursing from 
South Carolina State Hospital and the Columbia Hospital School of 
Nursing. She served as Head Evening Nurse at the Columbia Hospital 
School from 1961 to 1970, and was the owner and manager of Cromartie 
Enterprises from 1977 to 1996.
  In addition to her very successful career, Mrs. Cromartie was also 
active in her community and church. She was the Mother of the Church at 
Bishops' Memorial A.M.E. Church, where she had been a member for more 
than 50 years. Mrs. Cromartie had served as the church Treasurer for 
more than 40 years and was a member of the Trustee Board, Missionary 
Society, and the Building Fund.
  In the community, Mrs. Cromartie served as a poll manager in Ward 9 
at Allen-Benedict Court for many years. She had served as PTA President 
at Waverly Elementary, Carver Elementary, W.A. Perry Middle and C.A. 
Johnson High schools. She was also a school advocate for the Richland 
County Board of Education. Her other memberships included the March of 
Dimes, the League of Women Voters, and she was Past Illustrious 
Commandress of Daughters of Isis, Cairo Temple #125.
  Mrs. Cromartie had been recognized for her community work with a key 
to the City of Columbia and induction into the South Carolina Black 
Hall of Fame in 2003. In 1987, Columbia Mayor Patton Adams chose Mrs. 
Cromartie as one of several Columbians to be sketched for a picture 
presented to Pope John Paul II during his visit to Columbia that now 
hangs in the Vatican.
  Mrs. Cromartie was married to E. W. Cromartie, Sr. for 43 years. The 
couple has two children, E. W. Cromartie, III and Ernestine Cromartie 
Moody, and four grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in celebrating 
the life of a devoted wife, mother, Christian and community activist. 
Charlie Mae Cromartie made a lasting impression on the City of Columbia 
and all those who had the pleasure of knowing her.

                          ____________________