Statement by Congresswoman Maxine Waters on the Passing of Mary Henry
"Mary Henry was a dear friend and I'm deeply saddened by her loss. She had suffered for quite sometime now and though I am relieved that she is free from the pain of her long illness, her death is a great loss for our community and a personal loss for me.
For years Mary was not only the founder and Executive Director of the Avalon Carver Community Center, which provided social services for needy families and individuals such as housing support, education opportunities, and health care, but she was also a concerned and engaged citizen of the community who knew what the stakes were for many of the less fortunate that she worked and lived among.
She was a role model for me and other aspiring community leaders. You could count on Mary working with other community leaders to be at the forefront of all the issues of concern to the overall South Los Angeles Community.
She was recognized locally and nationally for her community organization and service work, among those honors being named the Los Angeles Times' Woman of the Year and working with President Johnson to spearhead local efforts for his War on Poverty.
She helped create Head Start, a program I was involved with early in my career, and was a constant advocate and supporter of the Martin Luther King/Drew Medical Center through good times and bad.
She was not only an expert community organizer but was also an extremely articulate woman who was able to speak on behalf of the community to all types of groups, organizations, and legislative bodies. She never hesitated in her strong advocacy on the issues of importance to those in need. Even after she became ill, she showed up at important community events and shared her wisdom, her expertise, and her advice.
Mary was in the hierarchy of the Lutheran church and regarded her faith as a cornerstone of her life.
My life was enriched by simply knowing her. She was indeed a friend and a mentor and I shall be forever grateful for all that she shared with me and the support that she gave me over the years.
My thoughts and prayers are with Mary's family and friends."
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