Steve Cohen: “The United States lost a great citizen and a legend on Sunday when Lois DeBerry passed away. Lois was the Speaker…”

“The United States lost a great citizen and a legend on Sunday when Lois DeBerry passed away. Lois was the Speaker Pro-Temp 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 of 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 to her and valued to have her as a member. She was a past president of the National Association of Black Local Elected Officials and respected in the National Conference of State Legislatures. Yesterday, a flag flew over the Capitol, which I have to present Saturday at her funeral, the day that we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, a march in which Lois participated as a very young person. Her's was a life well lived. She will be missed by all in Memphis and me. ____________________”