[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20048]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE BIRTHDAY OF DR. CLAYTIE ODESSA SEARCY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 22, 2008

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would like to 
take this opportunity to honor a great leader in the Dallas community: 
Dr. Claytie Odessa Searcy. Dr. C. O. Searcy was Pastor Emeritus and 
Founder of ``The House of Love Church.'' A native Texan, Dr. Searcy 
made history by becoming the first Black woman to receive a Masters 
degree from the University of Texas. She was the second person in the 
history of the university to complete a Masters program in only nine 
months.
  Dr. Searcy first began community work at the Moorland Branch YMCA in 
Dallas, Texas. Concerned about the boys' moral and spiritual life, she 
secured bibles for the entire boy's division and recognizing the need 
to strengthen the ``total family'', she organized a mothers' club which 
provided funds to send underprivileged boys to camp each summer.
  Dr. Searcy launched her community activities when she founded the 
C.O. Searcy Youth Foundation. The C.O. Searcy Foundation enabled Dr. 
Searcy to provide food, clothes, household merchandise and other much 
needed items to the families of her community. She offered the adults 
and youth extended GED courses in conjunction with the Dallas 
Independent School District.
  In 1966, Dr. Searcy then organized The House of Love Church, where 
she served as Pastor Emeritus. As Pastor Emeritus of the House of Love 
Church, Dr. Searcy spent her life serving others. When asked what 
``life'' means to her, her response was, ``Life is about helping 
someone else see who he/she really is.'' Today, Madame Speaker, I would 
like to celebrate the full life of Dr. Claytie Odessa Searcy, on this 
the occasion of her birthday.

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