[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22324]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               REMEMBERING MARTHA L. LEWIS, DADE CITY, FL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 22, 2009

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay 
tribute to a woman who thrived amidst adversity and dedicated her life 
to educating others so that they might not have to endure the same 
hardships that were bestowed upon her.
  A lifelong Florida resident, Martha L. Lewis was born on November 4, 
1922 in Lake Butler, Florida. Growing up, she had a strong desire to 
become a teacher. After graduating from high school, she saved up 
enough money to attend Bethune-Cookman College. She graduated first in 
her class earning a bachelor of science degree in elementary education.
  While attending Bethune-Cookman, she also met her future husband, 
Andrew N. Lewis Jr. He was the first African American to earn a high 
school diploma in Dade City. In their 48 years of marriage, they raised 
three children; Andrea, Angela and Andrew III. They were separated only 
by his death on July 24, 1995.
  Martha continued her education earning her masters of education 
degree in 1957. She parlayed her education into a long and fulfilling 
career as a teacher in Pasco County. She began as a teacher at Moore 
Academy; the first all black school in Dade City prior to integration, 
was later appointed principal of Moore Elementary School in 1968 and, 
in 1970 was promoted to administrative supervisor of the Migrant 
Education Program for Pasco County.
  She retired in 1973 after 27 years of devoted service to the public 
schools of Florida as a teacher, principal, and supervisor. Like her 
husband, she too will forever hold a place in Pasco County's history: 
upon her death, she was the only living black administrator of the 
Moore-Mickens Complex.
  She spent the next 25 years as a pianist and choirmaster for the St. 
Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Dade City. After retiring in 2003, 
she pursued a new found love of travel: she visited four of the seven 
continents.
  Martha leaves behind a litany of loved ones to cherish her memory and 
pass on her legacy to the many generations to come.

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