The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“REMEMBERING ELLEN VAN EDWARDS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E628 on May 20, 2019.
The Department includes the Census Bureau, which is used to determine many factors about American life. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department is involved in misguided foreign trade policies and is home to many unneeded programs.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
REMEMBERING ELLEN VAN EDWARDS
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HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
of the district of columbia
in the house of representatives
Monday, May 20, 2019
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in remembering the life of Ellen Odellas Van Edwards, a native Washingtonian and my former classmate at Dunbar High School.
On May 11, 2019, Ellen Odellas Van Edwards passed away in the arms of her daughter L. Robin V. Smith, while listening to praise and worship music. Throughout Van Edward's life, she brought joy to the District of Columbia community as a wife, mother and grandmother; a dedicated employee at the Department of Commerce; and later as ``Hajji the Magic Clown''.
Van Edwards was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Dunbar High School. We graduated together in 1955, the year before the school was desegregated. After graduating from Dunbar, Van Edwards attended the Atlantic Business College and earned her bachelor's degree in Business. She went on to work at the Department of Commerce for 42 years in the Office of the Secretary and the U.S. Patent office, where she was an administrative assistant and the first African American woman to work for the U.S. Board of Patent Appeals. She also worked in the International Affairs division.
Van Edwards lost her husband in 1974 and raised her two daughters, L. Robin V. Smith and Adriene Jordan, alone. Bringing light to a time of sadness, she became ``Hajji the Magic Clown.'' She completed clown class at Montgomery College and magic class at Catholic University. She shared her talent with children around Washington, D.C. and used her clowning abilities to win Ms. Senior District of Columbia.
On June 29, 2003, at the age of 66, Van Edwards was crowned the 21st Ms. Senior District of Columbia. She proudly represented D.C.'s other senior citizens for one year, encouraging them to live active lives. She was said to have won the crown by exemplifying ``the dignity, maturity and inner beauty of senior Americans.''
I ask the House of Representatives to join me in remembering the life of Ellen Van Edwards.
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