[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E73-E74]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

A VERY FINE LADY--INDEED--A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF DR. RACHEL HANNAH
CELESTINE BOONE KEITH

______

HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

of michigan

in the house of representatives

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, tonight I rise to pay tribute to a
champion of humanity. Dr. Rachel Hannah Celestine Boone Keith lived an
exemplary life, one filled with kindness and caring towards others. She
was an exceptional woman who genuinely cared about those around her and
was always quick to lend a helping hand. I have known Dr. Keith for
over 40 years. She was the wife of my dear friend, Judge Damon Keith.
Judge Keith and I have been great friends for a very long time. I
initially met Judge Keith when he was the law partner of my brother,
Nathan Conyers. It is with a heavy heart that I make this tribute to
Dr. Keith who gave so generously in life; she was a wonderful person
and physician, she acted on behalf of those who could not help
themselves, and she advocated vociferously for the health care rights
of the community at large, she will truly be missed.
Rachel Hannah Celestine Boone was born on May 24, 1924, in Monrovia,
Liberia. Her father and mother were Baptist medical missionaries who
founded a church, ran a school, and provided medical services. She
returned to the United States at the age of three, relocating with her
family to Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from high school at the age
of 13 and was the class valedictorian. Tragically, her mother died that
same year. This loss is what prompted her to decide to become a doctor.
After her mother's death, she relocated to Boston to live with her
aunt, Dr. Bessie B. Tharps. Following in her aunt's footsteps, she
attended the Boston University School of Medicine, where she attained
the highest score ever recorded on a medical school exam.
In 1951, she relocated to Detroit to become only the second African-
American female doctor to serve as a resident physician at the Detroit
Receiving Hospital. It was soon after beginning her residency that she
met Judge Keith, who was a young lawyer at the time. They were soon
married and remained married for 53 years. My friend Damon has said of
his wife, ``She was the sweetest woman in the world. Her life was a by-
product of how she was raised. She was very religious. She was not
pushy or demanding. She saw her life as one of service.'' Judge Keith
and Dr. Keith had three wonderful daughters, Cecile, Debbie, and Gilda.
She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who taught her children
that they were raised to live a simple life.
Professionally, Dr. Keith gave tirelessly to her patients. She was a
trained internist who was in private practice over 40 years. During
that long tenure, she never turned any patient away based on their
inability to pay.
Though she was a strong supporter of her husband and gentle in
demeanor, Dr. Keith was exceptionally effective as a leader in
developing community unity, and in developing and establishing new ways
to deliver health care. She was an early health care activist and far
ahead of her time in understanding the importance of health care being
universal to all.
In addition to being a strong medical presence in the community, she
was heavily involved in civic and social matters. She served on the
board of over 20 medical organizations and 18 non-profit groups. She
was also honored with numerous awards and honorary degrees. Madam
Speaker, the world is a better place because Dr. Keith was here; she
will be deeply missed, but her spirit and love that she shared with
others will live on indefinitely. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent to enter the homegoing celebration program of Dr. Rachel Hannah
Celestine Boone Keith into the Congressional Record.

Dr. Rachel Hannah Celestine Boone Keith

Rachel Keith was born Rachel Hannah Celestine Boone on May
30, 1924, in Monrovia, Liberia. Her parents, Reverends
Clinton C. Boone and Rachel Tharps Boone, were Baptist
medical missionaries. Her grandfather, Reverend Lemuel
Washington Boone, was a founding trustee of Shaw University.
Rachel came to the United States at age three and began her
schooling at Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary School in
Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from Armstrong High School
in 1938 at the age of 13 as valedictorian of her class. That
same year, she lost her mother and moved with her aunt, Dr.
Bessie B. Tharps, to Rhode Island. In 1943, as the only
African-American student at Houghton College in upstate New
York, Rachel graduated magna cum laude and second

[[Page E74]]

in her class. Thereafter, she completed postgraduate studies
in biology at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
Rachel attained her medical degree from Boston University's
School of Medicine in 1949.
Also in 1949, Dr. Rachel Boone was featured in a Look
Magazine story about Boston University's home medical service
and in The Boston Globe for scoring the highest ever on a
national board test. After completing her internship at
Harlem Hospital, she served at Brooklyn's Coney Island
Hospital before moving to Detroit in 1951. In 1953, she
married attorney Damon J. Keith. Dr. Keith completed a 2-year
residency in Internal Medicine at Detroit Receiving Hospital
in 1953. In 1954, she joined the staff at Detroit Memorial
Hospital and entered private practice. During her half
century of medical practice, Dr. Keith was also affiliated
with Burton Mercy, Detroit Riverview, Detroit Receiving,
Harper, Hutzel, and Sinai hospitals.
A member of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church for 53
years, Rachel Keith was a deeply religious woman who lived
her faith. She served her family, her patients and her
community with dedication and tenacity. As a physician, she
gave every patient her full attention and complete care. She
was a loving and nurturing mother to her daughters, Cecile,
Debbie and Gilda and an exemplary role model who taught them
to give back and help others. Her devotion and love for her
husband of 53 years, Judge Damon J. Keith, was steadfast. As
a member of the Detroit community, she as an active
participant in numerous civic and social organizations,
always with the intent of making life better for others. She
was a true pioneer in the medical community, a civil rights
activist, a compassionate mentor and a strong advocate for
her patients, the poor and uninsured.
In addition to her immediate family, Rachel Boone Keith is
survived by her brother, Rev. Clinton C. Boone, II, her
granddaughters, Nia and Camara Brown, in whom she took great
pride, her son-in-law, Daryle Brown, her niece and nephew,
Rane Boone Franklin and Rev. Clinton C. Boone III, and a host
of loving relatives and friends.
Opening Hymn, ``Blessed Assurance'', Tabernacle Combined
Choirs.
Scriptures: Matthew 25: 34-36, II Timothy 4:6-8, Reverend
Nicholas Hood, Sr., Pastor Emeritus, Plymouth United Church
of Christ.
Prayer, Reverend Dr. Oscar R. Carter, Inkster Springhill
Baptist Church.
Musical Selection, ``The Lord Is My Light'', Walter McLean.
Remarks, The Honorable Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor,
State of Michigan, The Honorable Kwame M. Kilpatrick, Mayor,
City of Detroit, Dr. James Brown, Longtime Medical Partner.
Family Tribute, Cecile Keith Brown, Daughter.
Silent Reading Of The Obituary, Musical Selection, ``I
Really Love The Lord''.
Musical Selection, ``His Eye Is On The Sparrow'', Virginia
Winters.
Eulogy, Reverend Dr. Charles G. Adams, Senior Pastor,
Hartford Memorial Baptist Church.
Hymn, ``Great Is Thy Faithfulness'', Congregation.
Closing Prayer, Reverend Nathan Johnson, Senior Pastor,
Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.
Recessional, ``God Be With You Till We Meet Again'',
Tabernacle Combined Choirs.
Dr. Keith's medical affiliations included: American Medical
Association; Beaumont Hospital; Blue Care Network; Blue
Preferred; Comprehensive Cancer Center of Metropolitan
Detroit; Detroit Department of Health; Detroit
Gastroenterological Society; Detroit Medical Center; Detroit
Medical Society; DMC Care; Eastwood Clinic Chemical
Dependency Unit; Michigan Board of Medicine; Michigan State
Medical Society; National Medical Association; Omnicare;
Professional Plaza Health Care Center P.C.; University of
Michigan Hospitals, Public Advisory Board; Wayne County
Medical Society; Wayne State University College of Nursing;
and Wayne State University School of Medicine.
Dr. Keith's civic and cultural affiliations included:
African American Association of Liberia; African Development
Fund; American Leprosy Mission; Coleman A. Young Foundation;
Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan; Detroit Community
Music School; Detroit Institute of Arts; Detroit Science
Center; Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Governor's Commission on
the Future of Higher Education; Links, Inc.--Great Lakes
Chapter; Mayor's Committee for the Cultural Center; Mayor's
Emergency Relief Committee; Metropolitan Area Service
Organization; NAACP--Lifetime Member; National Council of
Negro Women, Inc.; Top Ladies of Distinction; and World
Energy Conference.
She received numerous awards including: Boston University,
Rebecca Lee Award; Boston University, Honorary Degree, Doctor
of Humane Letters; Central Michigan University, Honorary
Degree, Doctor of Public Service; Mary McLeod Bethune Award;
Sinai Hospital Recognition Award; and Zeta Phi Beta Woman of
the Year.
Honorary Pallbearers: Robert and Maggie Allesee, Herman
Anderson, Dr. William Anderson, Hon. Dennis W. Archer, Hon.
Trudy Archer, Leon Atchison, Edward Bailey, Anita Baker, Don
and Bella Barden, Dr. and Mrs. Hiram Bell.
Mr. and Mrs. Werten Bellamy, Sr., Dr. Lerone Bennett, Dave
Bing, Black Judges Association of Michigan, Alberta
Blackburn, Catherine Carter Blackwell, Raymond H. Boone,
Charles Boyce, Joe Brown, Dr. Waldo Cain.
Dr. Benjamin A. Carson, Marvel Cheeks, Hon. Carolyn Cheeks-
Kilpatrick, Dr. Aram V. Chobanian, Dr. June Christmas, Hon.
Erie L. Clay, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Pres. William
Jefferson Clinton, Hon. R. Guy Cole, Jr., Prof. James
Coleman, William Coleman, Jr.
Pres. Mary Sue Coleman, Dr. Julius V. Combs, Congressman
John Conyers, Nathan Conyers, Leon Cooper, Dr. Wendell Cox,
Peter D. Cummings and Julie Fisher Cummings, David DiChiera,
Congressman John and Debbie Dingell.
Walter E. Douglas, Eugene and Elaine Driker, Prof. Michael
Eric Dyson, Esther Gordy Edwards, Bishop Charles H. Ellis,
III, Douglas Ellman, Myrlie Evers Williams, Hon. Edward
Ewell, Jr., Hon. John Feikens, Oscar Feldman, Dr. Otis
Ferguson.
Howard Fitts, Sylvia Flanagan, Rev. Kenneth Flowers, Edsel
and Cynthia Ford, Mr. and Mrs. William Clay Ford, Jr., W.
Frank Fountain, Aretha Franklin, Dr. John Hope Franklin,
Roderick G. Gillum, Dr. Holly S. Gilmer-Hill.
Tom and Carol Goss, Thomas A. Gottschalk, Gov. Jennifer M.
Granholm and Daniel Mulhern, The Greater Detroit Links,
Forrest Green, Dr. Rosalind Griffin, Prof. Lani Guinier,
Elliott Hall, Ronald E. Hall, Sr.
Mr. and Mrs. Steven H. Hamp, Carmen Harlan, Al and Kathy
Harrison, Hon. Erma Henderson, Prof. Evelyn Brooks
Higginbotham, Oliver W. Hill, Jimmy Hoffa, Jr., Dr. Melvin L.
Hollowell, Sr., Melvin ``Butch'' Hollowell, Jr., Dr. Benjamin
Hooks.
Willie Horton, Charles Hamilton Houston, III, Corrine
Houston, Joseph and Jean Hudson, Dr. Ann Marie Ice, Mike and
Marian Ilitch, Dr. Lonnie Joe, Dr. Arthur L. and Chacona
Johnson, E. Christopher Johnson, Hon. Sterling Johnson.
Hon. Nathaniel R. Jones, Vernon E. and Ann Jordan, Eleanor
Josaitis, Dr. Darnell and Shirley Kaigler, Peter and Danialle
Karmanos, Emory King, Joe W. Laymon, Otis K. Lee, Senator
Carl Levin, David Baker Lewis.
Diana Lewis, Dr. Ronald Little, Samuel Logan, Hon. Conrad
L. Mallett, Jr., Richard and Jane Manoogian, Mrs. Thurgood
Marshall, Hon. and Mrs. William McClain, Mrs. Wade McCree,
Jr., Aubrey McCutcheon, Jr., Rodney O'Neal.
Genna Rae McNeil, Jesse Jai McNeil, James Nicholson, Steve
Palackdharry, Nancy Parson, Dr. Robert E.L. Perkins, Dr.
William F. Pickard, Vivian Rogers Pickard, Sharon Madison
Polk, Gen. Colin and Alma Powell, Waltraud E. Prechter.
Dr. Irvin D. Reid, Roy S. and Maureen Roberts, Dr. Alma
Rose, Dean Kurt L. Schmoke, Alan E. and Marianne Schwartz,
The Shaya Family, Roger Short, Tavis Smiley, Senator Debbie
Stabenow, Elaine Eason Steele.
Marc Stepp, Emanuel Steward, Chuck Stokes, Herbert
Strather, Pres. H. Patrick Swygert, Frank Taylor, Dr. Natalia
Tanner, A. Alfred Taubman, Dr. Lorna Thomas, Reginald M.
Turner, Jr.
Abe Venable, Richard Wade, Irene Walt, Hon. JoAnn Watson,
Rev. Lance Watson, Dr. Charles Whitten, Gov. Douglas Wilder,
Hon. Ann Claire Williams, Lt. Kenneth Williams, Mrs. Stanley
Winkelman, Robert Hughes Wright, Dean Frank Wu, David N.
Zack.
Pallbearers: Luther Alton Keith, Gregory Sims, Reverend
Clinton C. Boone, III, Terrence Keith, Martinzey Sims, Alex
Parrish.
Flower Bearers: Great Lakes Chapter of the Links, Inc. and
friends.
Final Arrangements Entrusted to: Swanson Funeral Home,
Inc., 14751 W. McNichols Road, Detroit, Michigan, (313) 272-
9000.
Interment: Roseland Park Cemetery, Berkley, Michigan.
Fellowship and Repast: Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church
(Following the Interment).
Acknowledgment: The family of Dr. Rachel Boone Keith,
deeply appreciates your expressions of sympathy and acts of
kindness. Your love and support have been a great comfort.
Contributions can be made to: The Dr. Rachel Boone Keith
Prize Fund at the School of Medicine. Checks should be made
payable to: ``Trustees of Boston University'' Note: Rachel
Boone Keith Fund Address: BU School of Medicine, 75 Albany
Street, L219, Boston, MA 02118. The Rachel Boone Keith Prize
Fund is a permanently endowed fund established as a tribute
by her family to provide annual awards to one or more forth
year African-American female students who demonstrate
excellence in performance at the Boston University School of
Medicine.

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