[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22095]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO JAMES LAMAR SHULER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 15, 2006

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life 
and to mourn the passing of James Lamar Shuler, a civic leader, 
successful entrepreneur, talented businessman, community role model, 
devoted husband, beloved family man and loyal friend.
  Mr. Shuler will be remembered as a selfless individual who 
spearheaded economic development and neighborhood revitalization 
programs within the community. What Mr. Shuler practiced, he preached; 
vision was followed by action. I grieve with Mr. Shuler's wife, Barbara 
Carey-Shuler, a former Miami-Dade Commissioner and political icon in 
south Florida. During this difficult time, the Carey and Shuler 
families do not mourn alone: They are joined in prayer by a saddened 
and indebted community.
  James Lamar Shuler was born on August 14, 1953 to Marian Steward 
Shuler and Cleveland Shuler of Delray Beach, Florida. Mr. Shuler 
attended S.D. Spady Elementary School and graduated from Atlantic High 
School in 1971. He then graduated from Miami-Dade Community College in 
1976 with a degree in Mortuary Science and became a Licensed Funeral 
Director in 1977. Mr. Shuler soon purchased the House of Albert Funeral 
Home on West Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, then renovated and 
dedicated Shuler's Memorial Chapel Inc. on May 26, 1985. An institution 
that served the community was borne. Mr. Shuler was a professional who 
provided funeral services to all, irrespective of their economic 
status.
  Mr. Shuler hosted a re-dedication celebration on May 21, 2001 to 
recognize the renovation and expansion of his funeral home. The ribbon 
cutting ceremony was attended by approximately 800 well wishers, 
including government officials and celebrities. Mr. Shuler achieved 
iconic status within the community.
  Personal successes were coupled with community leadership activities. 
Mr. Shuler served as chairman of the West Atlantic Redevelopment 
Coalition which supported business and investment activities along the 
West Atlantic corridor. Mr. Shuler also served actively as chair of the 
Community Redevelopment Agency, guiding neighborhood renewal projects 
throughout Delray Beach.
  Mr. Shuler was named 1998 Mortician of the Year and served as 1st 
vice president of the Florida Mortician Association. He attended Saint 
Paul AME Church in Delray Beach. He was also a member of the Delray 
Beach Masonic Lodge #275, the Zeta Iota Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma 
Fraternity, the Alpha Gamma Chapter of Epsilon Nu Delta Mortuary 
fraternity, the Vision 2000 Committee for Delray Beach.
  Mr. Shuler is survived by his wife, Barbara Carey-Shuler; sons, 
Victor Shuler and Wesley Potts; daughter, Jessica Coogle; stepson, 
Archie Carey; two brothers, Jerry Shuler and Cleveland Shuler; and a 
sister, Marion Stewart.
  When families throughout Delray Beach and south Florida experienced 
the passing of a loved one, they came to Shuler's Memorial Chapel for 
funeral arrangements. It was James Lamar Shuler who would comfort the 
bereaved, in a manner that bespoke his grace, empathy and humanity. We 
stand united as one community honoring this remarkable man.

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