[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING LILLIE PITTMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
resourceful and ambitious woman, Mrs. Lille Brown Pittman. Lillie has 
shown what can be done through hard work, dedication and a desire to 
serve others.
  Lille Pittman, a resident of Delta City, Mississippi was born on July 
4, 1940 to Tobias and Charlotte Bell. She graduated from Henry Weathers 
High School in Rolling Fork, MS in 1959. At the age of 22, she moved to 
California where she met and married Benjamin Brown and to that union 
they had three children, Anthony, Antoinette, and Patrice.
  While in California, she worked for Raytheon as a Quality Control 
Inspector and for Hewlett Packard for 5 years as a Quality Assurance 
Inspector. In 1974, Lille returned to Mississippi with her three 
children. She was later employed with Asemco and Head Start until she 
was hit by the entrepreneurial bug. Ms. Pittman applied and obtained a 
small business loan to purchase the Delta City Trading Post in 1981 
which she successfully operated for 8 years. In the midst of operating 
The Delta City Trading Post, she also created Brown's Janitorial 
Services, where she had several contracts with the United States Corps 
of Engineers.
  In 1987, Lillie Pittman became the first African American woman to be 
elected to the Sharkey County Board of Supervisors. During her term in 
office, she made many accomplishments that brought jobs to the 
community and was awarded a grant to help low-income homeowners repair 
their homes.
  Although she only served one term, Lillie continued to work 
effortlessly for her District in Sharkey County. She continues to fight 
for better jobs, schools, and living conditions for the people of the 
community.
  Her ongoing contributions include petitioning for better water 
quality in Delta City, working with children in Anguilla, MS to create 
a community garden, and working with the current County Supervisor to 
clean up the over grown roadways with the Summer Youth Program. Mrs. 
Lillie Brown Pittman is currently doing what she calls her greatest 
work, being a grandmother of four, Salena, Sydney, Margaret Alexander, 
and Noah.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. 
Lillie Brown Pittman for her dedication for change and serving her 
community.

                          ____________________