[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7314]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              IN RECOGNITION OF RETHA FISHER'S RETIREMENT

 Mr. CARPER. Mr. President. I rise to today in recognition of 
Retha Fisher upon her retirement. Retha has served as Westminster 
Presbyterian Church's director of social services for 29 years, and her 
leadership over that span of time has won her the respect and gratitude 
of our entire State. She has been, and remains, a trusted friend to 
many members of our congregation and of the community that we serve.
  Retha was born in Fayetteville, NC, on April 18, 1936. She was the 
only child of Clara and Lester McLerin. Her early childhood ambition 
was to become a nurse, but she decided against it because she disliked 
the sight of blood. After many years of piano and voice lessons, she 
began her college career in Washington, DC, at Howard University where 
she majored in music. She later decided to follow her childhood desire 
to help her fellow man and changed her major to psychology and 
sociology with a minor in English. It was during this time that she 
made the decision to become a social worker.
  After graduation and while looking for employment, Retha applied to 
what was then known as the State Department of Welfare, Child Welfare 
Division in Dover. During the interview process, she was asked if she 
would like to take advantage of a stipend to attend graduate school. 
While living in Wilmington, she attended the University of 
Pennsylvania's School of Social Work and was placed in a position in 
Dover. Her placement was with Child Welfare Services, and she soon 
discovered that working with children was her true calling. Twelve 
years later, Retha accepted a position with the Wilmington Housing 
Authority as their coordinator of social services.
  Throughout these many years doing her fine work, Retha maintained and 
nourished some other ``loves of her life.'' She met and married Arland 
Roland Fisher, whom everyone called Roland. Together they had one 
daughter, Whitney Gayle Fisher, who now practices personal injury and 
criminal law in Newark, NJ. After her daughter's birth, Retha left her 
position to with the Wilmington Housing Authority to devote her time as 
a full-time wife and mother.
  In 1977, though, Retha was asked by Westminster Presbyterian Church 
if she would be interested in interviewing for a job there. It was with 
this wonderful opportunity that Retha found her true calling. She 
became the church's director of social services, and the people of 
Westminster and of Delaware have been truly blessed by this decision 
for almost three decades.
  Retha's service has extended far beyond the church walls and well 
into the community. In 1993, she founded the Food Bank of Delaware, a 
nonprofit agency that helps feed hungry people throughout our State. 
The Food Bank of Delaware is the only facility in Delaware with the 
equipment, warehouse, and staff to collect donations for all sectors of 
the food industry and to safely and efficiently redistribute it to the 
people who need it most. Through 235 member agencies, the Food Bank of 
Delaware distributes over 10 million pounds of food annually.
  In addition to the Food Bank of Delaware, Retha has also helped 
countless low-income individuals with financial assistance. She founded 
F.A.I.T.H. Center, which provides financial assistance to the poor. In 
1992, she also chaired the Conectiv--now Delmarva Power--Consumer 
Council, which continues to meet with representatives of the utility 
and the State of Delaware to bring financial support to those who 
cannot afford to pay their utility bills.
  In 1989, Retha met with 10 Westminster couples to explore the 
possibility of how they might help homeless families get off the street 
and into adequate housing. To that end, Retha founded the Samaritans. 
From case management to furniture to mentoring, the Samaritans stand 
ready to provide support for the year or so that a homeless family 
needs to become stabilized.
  At Christmastime, Retha embodies the true spirit of the holidays. 
Each year, Retha organizes and oversees Westminster's yearly program to 
distribute Christmas food and gift baskets to nearly 200 clients of the 
social services agencies of greater Wilmington.
  Retha has not only brought financial assistance through her work in 
these various programs, but she has served as a spiritual leader as 
well. She has been an ear to the lonely and a person to pray with 
through the hard times. She has given each of these people who have 
come to her dignity and hope.
  Through Retha's tireless efforts, she has made a profound difference 
in the lives of thousands of Delawareans. Upon her retirement, she 
leaves behind a legacy of commitment to public service for future 
generations to follow. I thank her for the friendship that many of us 
are privileged to share with Retha and for the inspiration that she 
provides through a lifetime of caring. On behalf of all Delawareans, I 
congratulate her on a truly remarkable and distinguished career and 
extend to her my very best wishes for every success in the future. I 
wish her and her family only the very best in all that lies 
ahead.

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