[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18237]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING DELTA BURIAL CORPORATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 5, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable Funeral Home Business in the Delta, Delta Burial Corporation 
of Marks, Mississippi.
  Delta Burial Corporation in Marks, Mississippi was first organized in 
1927. It took on new life in 1928, when a couple of men got together 
and had it incorporated.
  The founders of Delta Burial were Silas Kelly, I.W. LouAndrew and 
Rueben Price. The officers at that time were: John Melchor--president; 
Dan Nickels--vice president; Mamie Ruth Smith--secretary; Hernando 
Butts--treasurer and A.L. Saddler--general manager and agent.
  Delta Burial Corporation is the only corporate that was owned by all 
black stockholders and still is today. The company started out with one 
building in Marks, MS, and then got stronger and added four more 
locations to serve the areas. The branches are: Belzoni Branch, 
Belzoni, MS; Clarksdale Branch, Clarksdale, MS; Lexington Branch, 
Lexington, MS and Mound Bayou Branch, Mound Bayou, MS.
  Delta Burial is a business that provides burial, life insurance and 
pre-arrangements services for the deceased and their families. We 
strive to provide the highest quality of service to accomplish our 
goals. Our motto is ``Seldom Equal, Never Excelled.''
  Delta Burial officers today are as follows: Manuel Killebrew--
president, Fannie Smith--executive secretary; Irma Jean Bell--general 
manager; Aaron Gunn III, Dexter Howard and Cedric Burnett--morticians; 
and Shelton Leonard--funeral director.
  Each year Delta Burial gives back to the community and surrounding 
areas by donating funds for different causes and to the less fortunate. 
Also, they distribute Black History calendars, fans and yearly 
planners.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Delta 
Burial Corporation for its dedication to serving our great country.

                          ____________________