[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9852]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JULIA MAE PRIMUS

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 22, 2016

  Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of Julia Mae Primus, a dear friend of mine, who sadly passed away on 
June 18, 2016.
  Julia was born on June 25, 1924 in Leesburg, Florida, where she 
attended the Lake County Training School and graduated valedictorian of 
her class. Once she finished high school, she enrolled at Florida A&M 
University (FAMU), where she earned a bachelor's degree in early 
childhood education. She later took graduate courses at Northwestern 
University before obtaining her Master's Degree in Speech Therapy and 
Pathology from the University of South Florida.
  Julia paved the way for African American women as the first African 
American woman to be selected as a member of the Board of Directors of 
the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for the Florida-Georgia District. 
She was also a strong presence in the Florida A&M University (FAMU) 
community having pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and having 
chartered the Broward County Alumnae Chapter, serving two terms as the 
1st Chapter President.
  After college, she became the first African American speech therapist 
hired by the Broward County school system and served for forty years as 
a dedicated teacher and speech therapist. She devoted her life to 
educating future generations and to constantly serving as a role model 
to not only her pupils, but to all of us who were honored to have her 
in our lives.
  She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter Juliette Wise, her son 
Theodore
Primus, four grandchildren: Dawn Wise McGowan, Walter Wise, III 
(Marla), Theodore Primus, and Julian Primus; great grandsons: George 
McGowan, Ryan McGowan, Walter Wise, IV, Grant Wise, Gerald Wise; 
special friend Demetria Broadnax, and many other close and loving 
friends.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Julia Mae Primus, whose service to 
the people of Florida is a shining example for us all. Her spirit and 
memory will always live on.

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