Cohen Pays Tribute to Late Speaker Pro Tempore Emeritus Lois DeBerry on House Floor
[WASHINGTON, DC] – On the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today paid tribute to the late Tennessee House Speaker Pro Tempore Emeritus Lois DeBerry, the longest serving member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and the first female and only African American to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore. Video of the Congressman’s remarks is available here.
The Congressman’s remarks as prepared follow:
Mr. Speaker, Memphis, Tennessee and the United States lost a great citizen—and a legend—on Sunday when Lois DeBerry passed away.
Lois was the Speaker Pro Tempore 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 in 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 by her and honored to have her as a member. She was a past president of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials and respected in the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Yesterday, a flag flew over the United States Capitol which I will present Saturday at her funeral. The flag flew on the day that we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, a march in which Lois participated as a very young person.
Hers was a life well lived. She will missed by all in Memphis and by me.