[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11133]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              A TRIBUTE TO MARY ELIZABETH WHITEHEAD CLARK

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 17, 2010

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mary 
Elizabeth Whitehead Clark for her dedication to service and work as a 
community activist.
  Mary Elizabeth Catten, the oldest of six children, was born on 
October 8, 1938 in Franklin, Virginia where her family owned and worked 
their land and grew fruits, and vegetables. After having her first 
child, Arlinda, saving her money and getting married to Jesse 
Whitehead, she moved her family to the East New York section of 
Brooklyn, New York. She and her husband have five other children: Jesse 
Jr., Jacqueline, Johnette, John and Juanita, and raised five of her 
husband's nieces and nephews.
  Mary became Director of a daycare in East New York that employed 10 
adults as well as 15 neighborhood youth during the summer. Through her 
strong leadership in the community of East New York, Mary played a key 
role in working with Community Board 5, and former Mayor of New York 
City, the Honorable Abraham ``Abe'' Beame, in mapping out the new 
housing developments that were built in East New York, currently known 
as the Nehemiah homes. Mary started a block association on Sutter 
Avenue to improve the conditions in the neighborhood of Community Board 
5.
  Mary's family outgrew their Sutter avenue apartment and later moved 
into a house in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. She gave 
birth to a second set of twins (Mary and Marty) that gave her and Jesse 
13 children to raise.
  Mary started another block association in her new neighborhood on 
Halsey Street. She was always involved in the schools that her children 
attended. Sadly, her beloved husband passed away in 1974. Shortly 
thereafter, Mary began attending the Macedonia Disciples of Church of 
God in Christ. She served as the pastor's aide and became a member of 
the usher's board. She also became involved with the church food 
pantry, which distributes food to individuals and families in the 
Bedford Stuyvesant community. The church was an integral part of Mary's 
life and helped to make sure that her entire family knew God. Mary is 
still an active member of the church to this day and continues to 
tirelessly run the food pantry. Mary continues to maintain a presence 
in the schools that her children attended and served as President of 
the P.T.A. of P.S. 93, J.H.S. 258, and Boys and Girls High School. Mary 
inspires everyone she meets to make a better life for their families 
and communities.
  As her children grew old enough to care for themselves, Mary went 
back to school and trained to become a home health aide. After 
successfully completing school and working for a while as a home health 
aide, she began teaching home health aide courses at the request of the 
directors of her school. Mary retired after many years of teaching, but 
her teaching days were far from over. Mary raised two of her many 
grandchildren, ran the food pantry and served as President of the 
Nurses Unite organization at her church. Mary was remarried to Mr. 
James Clark and moved to the Bushwick section of Brooklyn where she 
continues to be an active member of her block association. The Mary 
Elizabeth Whitehead Clark legacy of community activism is continued by 
her children who are all in some aspects involved in politics, and 
community activism.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
achievements of Mary Elizabeth Whitehead Clark.

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