[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 23]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 31550]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO VELMA JUSTICE CHILDERS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 11, 2009

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the late Velma Justice Childers, a Republican leader in Kentucky who 
proudly planted her feet in the conservative movement.
  Ms. Childers was an energetic civic leader always promoting the great 
attributes of Pikeville, Pike County and Eastern Kentucky. She was a 
hard working Republican who firmly believed in conservative principles 
of government. Velma eagerly offered her advice, counsel and friendship 
to politicians, neighbors and young rising leaders.
  Her ability to communicate and rally support for conservative values, 
earned her reference as the ``Grande Dame'' of the Kentucky Republican 
Party. In addition to her passion for civic responsibility, Velma spent 
a lifetime sharing compassion and encouragement with members of the 
First Baptist Church of Pikeville for more than 50 years and as a 
member of the Board of Trustees for the University of the Cumberlands 
for 13 years, among various other committees across Southern and 
Eastern Kentucky.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in memory of Velma 
Justice Childers, a woman who tirelessly touted the values upon which 
our country was founded. Her enthusiasm will be missed.

                          ____________________