Lynn C. Woolsey: “Juanita Millender-McDonald. We already miss you, your beautiful face, your elegance and grace, your tenacity and spirit.…”

“Juanita Millender-McDonald. We already miss you, your beautiful face, your elegance and grace, your tenacity and spirit. Your absence will leave a void that will never, ever be filled. And that is what we know about you here without question in the House of Representatives, so we can only guess how much you are going to be missed by your beloved family. They, in their grief, however, can always take solace in their pride and in their love and their appreciation of such an amazing woman. Beloved wife, mother of five, grandmother of five, Member of the California Assembly, Member of the United States House of Representatives, and in the end, the very first African American woman to become chairwoman of a full committee. Because of this position, this elegant persuasive woman's portrait will hang in the Halls of Congress for the rest of time. And over the years she will watch over the activities of her House Administration Committee. And believe me, she will be expecting excellence. So while Juanita rests, she expects each and every one of us to keep on going until we can go no more; and because of her example, we will do our very best. We already miss you, Juanita, and we will remember you always.”