[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17829-17830]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF DeANTE PIERRE WILSON, A YOUNG MAN OF SPIRITUAL 
            COMPASSION AND LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY HE SERVED

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 17, 2010

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today 
to memorialize a beloved young member of our Harlem community, DeAnte 
Pierre Wilson, whose mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 20, 
2010 at Kelly Temple Church Of God In Christ in my congressional 
district.
  His unexpected and untimely passing has left behind a deeply felt 
void within his church, the Kelly Temple COGIC, where he served as 
youth minister. That deeply felt void is also extended to his family 
and friends at the Harlem Hospital Center, where he worked and was 
admired by all he came into contact. For a man who chose the path to 
deliver and mentor God's ministry at a very young age and open the 
hearts of all us with his amazing smile, the loss of DeAnte Pierre 
Wilson is especially profound to me and to the greater Harlem community 
in which he lived and served.
  Mr. DeAnte Pierre Wilson was born in Gastonia, North Carolina on 
November 30, 1981. After completing his schooling in the Gastonia 
School District, DeAnte attended World Harvest Bible College, placing 
his spiritual path in God's unyielding hands. Even at a young age, 
DeAnte managed to touch the hearts of people as he was called to preach 
at the age of 16.
  DeAnte Pierre Wilson relocated and established his roots in Harlem, 
New York, where he joined Kelly Temple Church Of God In Christ. DeAnte 
cultivated his spiritual activism and under the leadership of Bishop 
James H. Gaylord, he was appointed youth president, where he served 
faithfully until 2007. His primary goal was to encourage the youth of 
the church, and the community at large to aspire for greatness and 
perfection. DeAnte could often be found mentoring and counseling a 
young person, giving them the push needed to reach their set goals and 
potential.
  In 2008, DeAnte was ordained elder in the Church Of God In Christ in 
Brazil, during the time of their Holy Convocation. He then returned to 
Kelly Temple COGIC, and was appointed youth minister for the Youth 
Department, where he, along with Ms. Angela Williams, instituted Youth 
Church. DeAnte was instrumental in bringing young people from various 
congregations to the church to minister to the youth.
  I am told that DeAnte had a very extensive resume, but found his 
calling working with people and doing special events. On December 14, 
DeAnte joined the Harlem Hospital Center team, working as the Assistant 
Coordinating Manager in the Office of Special Events. Though his tenure 
was short, DeAnte managed to touch the lives of many and was especially 
noted for his pleasantry and poise as he greeted each employee and 
customer with a smile while working events. DeAnte exhibited world 
class customer service and expressed a great love for the community he

[[Page 17830]]

had become a part of. I truly believe that his enjoyment of working 
with the community led him to enroll in Fordham University and major in 
political science. He joined the NAACP Mid-Manhattan Branch, where he 
helped the branch organize a very special Women's History Month event, 
``Love in the Time of HIV.'' The tribute highlighted the strengths of 
ordinary women winning the fight and contributing to their communities, 
while surviving with HIV/AIDS.
  Madam Speaker, DeAnte Pierre Wilson, a giant of a man departed this 
life on Sunday, November 7, 2010. As it is noted in his obituary, 
DeAnte will be remembered for his random acts of kindness, his 
infectious smile, his willingness to strive for greatness, and his 
drive to push others to their own success. Please join me in 
celebrating the short-lived life of this amazing spiritual man.

                          ____________________