Recognizing Lavinia Perkins Mathis on Her 100th Birthday

Floor Speech

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Mr. BEAN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Lavinia Perkins Mathis on the occasion of her 100th birthday.

Born on September 24, 1923, in Jacksonville, Florida, Ms. Mathis is the proud daughter of Camilla Bolton Perkins, a Jacksonville elementary school teacher, and Daniel W. Perkins, a prominent lawyer in Jacksonville. Ms. Mathis and her 2 sisters grew up in the Lavilla neighborhood of Jacksonville where she attended a wooden 2-story schoolhouse. She graduated from Old Stanton High School in 1942.

Ms. Mathis attended Florida A&M College (now Florida A&M University) and graduated in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. For 30 years, she taught science in Duval County Public Schools including at James Weldon Johnson Jr. High, Stilwell Jr. High, and Northwestern Jr. High until 1977.

On June 15, 1948, she married Clarence F. Mathis, and they had 2 children Cecelia Mathis and Marcia Mathis. Ms. Mathis is also a proud grandmother of 3 and great-grandmother. A devoted Catholic, Ms. Mathis loves her family and the Lord.

She became a Catholic while at Florida A&M College and when Ms. Mathis returned home to Jacksonville, Florida she joined St. Pius V Catholic Church. While a member of St. Pius, she served on several committees including the Altar Rosary Society, the Welcome and Outreach, and All Saints Auxiliary.

Ms. Mathis is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and in 2019 she became a Diamond member of Alpha Kappa Alpha having served faithfully as a member of the sorority for over 75 years.

I am honored to recognize a dedicated servant to our community and the Lord, and I wish Ms. Mathis a wonderful 100th birthday.

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