Statement on the 114th Birthday of Ms. Susannah Mushatt Jones

Floor Speech

Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 114th birthday of Ms. Susannah Mushatt Jones, who is affectionately called Miss Susie. Considered the oldest resident in New York State by the Gerontology Research Group, she is a beloved member of the Brooklyn community I am proud to represent in Congress. In honor of her birthday, Miss Susie was honored on July 12, 2013, at the Vandalia Senior Center in Brooklyn, NY. We revel not just the years since her birth, but the history she has witnessed in three separate centuries. From experiencing segregation in the South to being a first-hand witness of the Civil Rights movement in New York, we commemorate her birthday with awe and inspiration.

Miss Susie was born into a large, loving family on July 6, 1899, in Lowndes County, Alabama as the third of eleven children. In 1923 she moved to New York as part of the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to cities in the North, Midwest, and West. Miss Susie dedicated her professional pursuits to children, first as a schoolteacher and then as a childcare provider. At one point, she moved to Hollywood to work for a family in the film industry. During her time on the west coast, she enjoyed socializing with movie stars and attending movie premieres. She fondly remembers meeting Ronald Reagan, Clark Gable, and Cary Grant.

Family has always surrounded Miss Susie: she takes great delight in being an aunt to over 100 nieces and nephews. Throughout her life, she has brightened many lives with her positive attitude and infectious laugh. She resides in Vandalia Houses and was an active member of the Vandalia Houses Senior Center tenant patrol through her 100th birthday. Miss Susie credits her healthy lifestyle free of smoking and drinking for her longevity.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in celebrating Ms. Susannah Mushatt Jones on her 114th birthday.

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