[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11197]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       A TRIBUTE TO SUSANNAH MUSHATT JONES ON HER 113TH BIRTHDAY

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 11, 2012

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor 
Susannah Mushatt Jones on the occasion of her 113th birthday 
celebration. Lovingly called ``Miss Susie'', she is a symbol of 
longevity and commitment to family for all New Yorkers and our nation.
  Susie Jones was born July 6, 1899 in Lowndes County, Alabama and was 
the third of 11 children. Susie survives all of her siblings and is a 
firsthand historian of a unique quantity of our American history and 
growth as a country. She never had children but has more than 100 
nieces and nephews. She is generous to the core paying for two nieces 
through college and lavishing gifts on the rest.
  Miss Susie grew up in the segregated South and taught for two months 
after graduating high school. She then moved to New Jersey to work with 
a wealthy family in 1922. The following year she moved to work with a 
Westchester County family. Her work with various families over those 
years took her from the East Coast to the West Coast. At one point, 
Miss Susie worked for a prominent Hollywood family, socializing with 
movie stars and attending movie premieres. According to her, one time 
she was ``close enough to Ronald Reagan to reach out and touch him.'' 
``Clark Gable, Cary Grant, I saw them all. George Raft was my 
favorite.''
  Miss Susie uses the word wonderful a lot, but about the only time she 
doesn't use it is in reference to her ex-husband, Henry. ``We married 
in 1928, I think. He wasn't a mean person. He was a very good cook,'' 
she says. ``But I don't know what happened to him.''
  Miss Susie retired in 1965 during the Civil Rights Movement and 
witnessed the continued change in the country through the following 
years. She lost her vision about 12 years ago and maintains her 
infectious laugh and upbeat attitude. Although she now has limited 
mobility, Miss Susie was an active member of the Vandalia Houses Senior 
Center tenant patrol well beyond her 100 years. Twice a day she sat in 
the lobby checking the guests as they signed in.
  We can all learn from Miss Susie's secrets to a long life. She never 
smoked, drank. She works hard and loves faithfully. ``I thank the Lord 
for the love I receive from my family,'' she says.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the wonderful life and 
important contributions of Susannah Mushatt Jones. She is a treasured 
and active member of Vandalia Senior Center. We are proud that she is 
still part of our community. This milestone gives all of us hope that 
people can truly live a long prosperous life.

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