TRIBUTE TO MRS. EVELYN BENNETT GUILE

On 2025-03-24, Representative James E. Clyburn (D-SC-6) delivered a floor speech titled "TRIBUTE TO MRS. EVELYN BENNETT GUILE" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered foreign policy, China.

TRIBUTE TO MRS. EVELYN BENNETT GUILE

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 53 (Monday, March 24, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 53 (Monday, March 24, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E241] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO MRS. EVELYN BENNETT GUILE ______ HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN of south carolina in the house of representatives Monday, March 24, 2025 Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the extraordinary life of Evelyn Bennett Guile. Mrs. Guile transitioned on March 23, 2025, at the remarkable age of 107 years. Her life is a testament to resilience, dedication, and service to her family, church, and community. Born on February 11, 1918, in Florence County, South Carolina, Evelyn was the middle child among five brothers and one sister. She grew up between South Carolina and Pennsylvania, attending both integrated and segregated schools before graduating from Wilson High School in 1936. These experiences shaped her lifelong passion for education and equality. Ms. Bennett Guile was a devoted wife to Earl Ernest Guile for 44 years until his passing in 1980. Together, they raised two children, Georgia Guile Montgomery of Orangeburg, South Carolina, and Dr. Ernest Earl Guile, Jr., of Portland, Oregon. She is the proud matriarch of a large family, including grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great- great-grandchildren. A lifelong member of Mount Zion AME Church, Mrs. Guile was active in church organizations, including the Stewardess Board and the Lay Organization. She used her talents as a seamstress to craft altar coverings and refurbished a meeting room dedicated to her late husband, who served as Sunday School superintendent for 30 years. Evelyn's entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish the first sewing shop in Florence, South Carolina, serving a diverse clientele despite segregation. For over 50 years, she provided dressmaking services before teaching sewing classes. Her artistic talents extended to clothing and hat design, ceramics, painting, and China painting, which she embraced at age 60. Alongside her husband, then-president of the Florence NAACP, she fought tirelessly for justice and equality. Despite threats, the Guiles opened their home to Civil Rights leaders such as Thurgood Marshall and Benjamin E. Mays, working to dismantle segregation in South Carolina. Mrs. Bennett Guile remained vibrant and engaged throughout her life, attributing her longevity to exercise, a healthy diet, and mental stimulation. She lived independently until age 103 and continued to embrace lifelong learning. A world traveler, Evelyn visited all seven continents and explored the U.S. in her Airstream camper. One of her most cherished experiences was driving over 6,000 miles across Africa, reconnecting with her ancestral homeland. Even in her later years, she continued to inspire others with her wisdom and kindness. She often reminded those around her to ``follow your dreams,'' a sentiment that perfectly encapsulates the way she lived her life--with purpose, passion, and a commitment to uplifting others. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in honoring the extraordinary life and legacy of Evelyn Bennett Guile. May her remarkable journey continue to inspire generations to come, and may we carry forward the values she held dear. ____________________