[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12849]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
                       IN MEMORY OF LOIS DeBERRY

  (Mr. COHEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, the United States lost a great citizen and a 
legend on Sunday when Lois DeBerry passed away. Lois was the Speaker 
Pro-Temp Emeritus of the Tennessee General Assembly and the longest-
serving member of the Tennessee General Assembly. I had the honor to 
serve with her. She was a great orator, and she was the go-to person of 
the Tennessee General Assembly on civil rights issues, women's issues, 
children's issues, education issues, and anything about Memphis. She 
served with distinction and was recognized all over the country. The 
Delta Sigma Thetas were valued to her and valued to have her as a 
member. She was a past president of the National Association of Black 
Local Elected Officials and respected in the National Conference of 
State Legislatures.
  Yesterday, a flag flew over the Capitol, which I have to present 
Saturday at her funeral, the day that we celebrate the 50th anniversary 
of the March on Washington, a march in which Lois participated as a 
very young person. Her's was a life well lived. She will be missed by 
all in Memphis and me.

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