[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 394]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  A TRIBUTE TO LOUISA JOSEFINA MORRIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 18, 2011

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Louisa 
Josefina Morris on the occasion of her 100th birthday.
  Louisa Josefina Morris was born in Colon, Panama on January 17, 1911 
to Elmina Cox and Charles Watts. She was raised by her grandparents 
Ella and Ernest Beury in Panama's Gatun, Cristobel Canal Zone. Her 
grandparents proved to be important role models; they provided a loving 
and caring home for her to develop and grow.
  Louisa met and married Irving Benjamin Morris, and together, they had 
five children: Irene Walker, Davina Morris, Olivia Aikens, Leo Morris, 
and Elisa Morris.
  In 1958, Louisa left Panama and relocated to the United States, where 
she got a job at a local hospital. She became a citizen five years 
later. Her children and husband all came to the United States shortly 
after Louisa.
  All of her children grew up and had children of their own, giving 
Louisa and Irving many grandchildren. Louisa contributed to raising the 
first generation of her grandchildren. Now each of her grandchildren 
has children of their own.
  Through the past 100 years, Louisa has lived a full life, through 
World War I and World War II, Vietnam, segregation, Martin Luther King, 
Jr., Malcolm X, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and the 
election of President Barack Obama, and says now that she has seen it 
all, and has had the pleasure of doing what many have not been 
privileged to do.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the life 
of Louisa Josefina Morris.

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