[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 14353-14354]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO CASSIE KEITT WEEKS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 8, 2008

  Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
wonderful constituent on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Mrs. 
Cassie Keitt Weeks of Fort Motte, South Carolina will become a 
centenarian on August 5, 2008. This is a remarkable milestone that few 
of us are ever able to achieve.
  Cassie Keitt is the daughter of the late Hattie Young and Elijah 
``Bub'' Keitt of Fort Motte. She was married to the late Jesse Weeks, 
Sr.
  Mrs. Weeks can trace her ancestry to slaves on the Lang Syne 
Plantation and the Goshen Plantations in Fort Motte. Both Mrs. Weeks 
and her husband were employed by the Peterkin family at the Lang Syne 
Plantation until their retirement.
  The church is a central part of Mrs. Weeks' life. Her great-
grandfather is on the original deed as an organizer of Mt. Pleasant 
Baptist Church in Fort Motte. It was the first church organized by 
former slaves in the community, and Mrs. Weeks attends that church 
today. She is among the church's staunchest supporters and serves in a 
number of capacities. She is a Church Mother, a member of the Senior 
Choir and Sunday school class, and serves as a pastor's aide. She is an 
avid fundraiser, a homecoming and friends and family day captain, and a 
member of the building and kitchen committees. She also serves as the 
church historian. When asked about the secret to her longevity, Mrs. 
Weeks replies, ``trusting in the Lord.'' She also adds, ``I like it on 
this side. This is all I know, so I will stay as long as I can.''
  Among her other pleasures when she was able were making lye soap and 
quilting bees.

[[Page 14354]]

The Weeks home was always the gathering place for friends and family. 
Today she still enjoys sitting on the porch and entertaining visitors. 
She is also a very avid voter, and never misses the opportunity to cast 
her ballot.
  Mrs. Weeks family provides her tremendous strength and joy. She is 
the mother of four children: daughters Rebecca Weeks Brown and Hattie 
Belle Weeks Scott and sons Jesse Weeks, Jr. (deceased) and Julius 
Weeks.
  She is the grandmother of eight; great grandmother of eighteen; and 
the great, great grandmother of three. In addition she has a host of 
nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many friends.
  Madam Speaker, I invite you and my colleagues to join me today in 
wishing a happy 100th birthday to Cassie Keitt Weeks. This strong 
matriarch remains independent and active, and serves as an example to 
us all. I wish her health, happiness and Godspeed on this momentous 
occasion!

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