Linda White- EPPS Post Office

LINDA WHITE-EPPS POST OFFICE-HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO (Extensions of Remarks - June 14, 2004)

HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO OF CONNECTICUT
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Monday, June 14, 2004

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to pay tribute to Linda White-Epps by renaming the Whitneyville Branch Post Office building in Hamden, Connecticut as the "Linda White-Epps Post Office."

Linda was an extraordinary woman who dedicated her life to making her community better. She served in town government and on local non-profit boards. Most of all, though, she was devoted to the cause of raising awareness about breast cancer among African American women. I am proud to have known her and to have called her my friend.
Linda was an executive board member of the local NAACP and sat on the Board of Directors of the local Boys and Girls Club. In 2001, she was elected to the Hamden Legislative Council. But it was her work in fighting breast cancer that led her to be named a Point of Light by the Points of Light Foundation in 2001.

She created Sisters' Journey, a non-profit organization that provides education and support to breast cancer survivors, their friends and their families. In 1999, Sisters Journey published a calendar featuring pictures of women who have beaten the disease. Each turn of a page provides a look at another month, more stories from "sisters" and words of encouragement to women. Each page says examine your breasts and have regular mammograms. The unveiling of the calendar still occurs every October at a fundraiser known as the "Pink Tea," a tradition Linda started.

Linda was one of the women profiled in the calendar. She beat breast cancer in 1990, and spent the last decade of her life helping other women do the same. Sadly, she finally succumbed to the disease last year. Linda faced breast cancer in such a quiet way that many of her neighbors and friends were not aware of the gravity of her illness.

She approached advocacy with humility, but received several awards from the American Cancer Society. She also won the Greater New Haven NAACP Freedom Fund Award, and the "Daily Point of Light" award. Linda was also responsible for organizing the first "Relay for Life," held in the Hamden area. The event raised about $50,000 for the American Cancer Society and also reached a larger segment of African American women participants.

Mr. Speaker, Linda was the granddaughter of a postal carrier. Like her grandfather, she lived a remarkable life that made a difference in her community. Honoring her by renaming the Hamden Post Office after her would be a fitting tribute.