[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15975]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING LYDIA MARIE ELLIOTT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 29, 2012

  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
extraordinary life of Mrs. Lydia Marie Elliott. A dedicated educator, 
homemaker and active community member, Mrs. Elliott and her husband of 
65 years, the late Henry Elliott, were stalwart members of the Bay Area 
community for five decades. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-
grandmother, sister and friend, Mrs. Lydia Marie Elliott will be 
forever remembered for her warmth and compassion. With her passing on 
November 15, 2012, we are reminded of her life's journey and the joyful 
legacy she inspired.
  Lydia Marie Pitts Elliott was born on November 12, 1923, and was the 
fifth of Jesse and Bell Beatrice Pitts' eight children. After attending 
Mark Hanna High School in Tullahassee and meeting the love of her life, 
Henry Wilford Elliott who taught Math and Science there, Lydia and 
Henry were married on January 11, 1943. While her husband served 
overseas, Mrs. Elliott earned her bachelor's degree at Oklahoma's 
Langston University, joining Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and beginning a 
lifetime commitment to the organization and her fellow sorority 
sisters.
  After being reunited with her husband in Japan, Mrs. Elliott enjoyed 
traveling the globe as an army spouse, visiting many of the world's 
major cities and countries and giving birth to the couple's two sons 
during that time. Upon Mr. Elliott's retirement from the army, the 
family moved to the Bay Area, where Henry became the first African 
American middle and high school principal in Vallejo, CA. Over the 
course of 25 years, Mrs. Elliott served the Richmond Unified School 
District, teaching arts and crafts and advancing to the position of 
head teacher. She continued her studies in education while actively 
participating with local community organizations like the Order of the 
Eastern Star, Beta Pi Sigma Sorority, Inc., the National Council of 
Negro Women and the NAACP. She was also a lifetime member of Alpha 
Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. reaching the title of ``Golden Soror'' in 
1997 for her outstanding 50-year membership and acting as a charter 
member of a local Kappa Beta Omega chapter in Vallejo, CA. Mr. and Mrs. 
Elliott were also church members and avid volunteers, dedicating their 
time to organizations like the Omega Boys Club and The Adkins Project.
  A woman of many talents, Mrs. Elliott was known for her fine sense of 
fashion, her penchant for collecting and her excellent cooking. Above 
all, she was incredibly committed to the wellbeing of her family, 
always making ample time for loved ones and friends.
  On a personal note, I have known Lydia longer than anyone in my life 
except for my immediate family. My mother, Mildred, met Lydia in 1948 
and they became the best of friends. She was my sister Beverly's 
Godmother and she was part of our extended family. My mother, two 
sisters, Beverly and Mildred, and I loved her; and we have many 
wonderful memories of Lydia, her beloved late husband, Hank, and her 
sons Henry Jr. and Terence. We will miss her tremendously, but we thank 
God for her friendship--and for the many joyous times we spent with 
Lydia and her family.
  Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors a 
wonderful human being, Mrs. Lydia Marie Elliott. The contributions she 
made to others throughout her life are countless and precious. Our 
community is indebted to her many civic contributions over the decades 
and her legacy of love and compassion will continue in the years to 
come. My thoughts are with Lydia's family and her extended group of 
loved ones as we celebrate her incredible life. May her soul rest in 
peace.

                          ____________________