[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 2444-2445]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING THELMA TRAYLOR SEALE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 25, 2008

   Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life 
of Mrs. Thelma Traylor Seale of Oakland, California. A caring friend, 
mentor, mother, and grandmother, Thelma was an extraordinary presence 
in our community. Mrs. Seale passed on January 25, 2008.
   She was the loving mother of Mr. Bobby Seale, co-founder of the 
Black Panther Party, Ms. Bettye Seale-Williams, and Mr. John Henry 
Seale. With eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren, Thelma 
understood the value of family and the importance of togetherness. With 
Thelma's passing, we look to her family to remind us of her 
extraordinary life and her unwavering strength of character.
   Mrs. Seale was 37 days shy of her 100th birthday at the time of her 
passing. The shear breadth and substance of such a long life attests to 
Thelma's vitality and energy. She experienced first-hand the most 
important and dynamic moments in the struggles of African-Americans in 
our country throughout the last century. More than a witness, Thelma 
Traylor Seale was on the frontlines of history through the African-
American community's resilient pursuit of equality and justice.
  Mrs. Seale was born in Jasper, Texas on March 3, 1908. She was the 
fifteenth of sixteen children born to her family, and she lived to be 
the oldest. During World War II, Mrs. Seale was an employee of Kelly 
Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. She arrived in Berkeley, 
California in 1943, where she resided in the Codornices Village housing 
projects. In the 1950's Mrs. Seale moved to Oakland, where she remained 
as an involved and dedicated member of the community for the remainder 
of her life.
  In spite of the many challenges Mrs. Seale faced in her life, the 
injustices she witnessed, and the hardships she overcame, she was known 
first and foremost for her sweet and caring personality. Mrs. Seale's 
love for others and the joy she spread through laughter and good humor 
are what her family remembers most about her.
   A survivor, a loving matriarch, and a pillar in our community, 
Thelma will be sorely missed. However, we are thankful for the 
opportunities she gave us to come together and celebrate the hope and 
love in our lives. As we say goodbye to her, we have been given yet 
another opportunity to reflect on the rich past of our community and 
the century Thelma lived to see.
  Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors a 
great human being, our beloved Thelma Traylor Seale. We extend

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our deepest condolences to Thelma's family and to her children. Thank 
you for sharing her great spirit with us. May her soul rest in peace.

                          ____________________