[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20542]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY MESSAGE TO MRS. INIS PUCKETT OF TENNESSEE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LINCOLN DAVIS

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 31, 2009

  Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and 
celebrate the life of Inis Puckett on the occasion of her 100th 
birthday.
  Inis Beasley Puckett, the oldest of six children, was born to E.J. 
and Lecie Fly Beasley, on August 12, 1909, on a farm in Primm Springs, 
Tennessee. She moved to Centerville with her family when she was 16 
years old.
  The family quickly became active members of the Centerville Church 
where her father served as Bible school teacher, treasurer, Sunday 
school superintendent, song leader and Elder for 30 years until his 
death in 1958. Her mother died in 1981.
  Inis has been a member of the Centerville Church for 82 years. She 
has taught many Sunday classes, Vacation Bible Study classes, and 
served as supervisor of the primary department for 20 years.
  Inis graduated from Hickman County High School and George Peabody 
College. Her teaching career, spanning 43 years, began at Bon Aqua 
teaching third and fourth grades, then to Little Rock for all eight 
grades, then to McFarlan for all eight grades. There, she rode the bus 
to Five Points, walked two miles and built the fire in the wintertime. 
After school, she walked back to the highway, and after dark, caught 
the bus home. She was transferred to Haley's Creek with all eight 
grades for 5 years. She then moved to Centerville Elementary School 
where she taught first grade for 32 years.
  After her retirement, she worked with her dad and husband in Beasley 
Furniture Store until it closed in 1979.
  Inis and Paul Puckett were married on April 12, 1934. Paul died on 
their 60th wedding anniversary. Inis' sight began to deteriorate in 
1981. She has had 13 surgeries on her eyes with little success.
  In her lifetime she has enjoyed many activities such as gardening, 
baking and still enjoys playing the organ. Due to the failure of her 
eyesight, she has memorized 56 selections.
  Her present residence has been her home for 67 years.
  I ask that my colleagues rise and join me today in wishing Inis a 
happy birthday as she continues to grace us with her rich, full 
presence in Tennessee.

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