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Congressional Daily Record
This section is a tribute, commemoration, or district-facing statement. It mentions members such as Don Davis. Extensions of Remarks are statements submitted for the official record, even if they were not spoken live on the floor.
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July 23, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. DONALD G. DAVIS
of north carolina
in the house of representatives
Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Dorethea Branch of La Grange who recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
For a century, Mrs. Branch has exemplified the values that strengthen our communities: faith, perseverance, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to serving others. Her remarkable life stands as a testament to the profound difference one person can make through leadership and unwavering dedication.
Born in Dudley, North Carolina, on July 5, 1926, Mrs. Branch has called La Grange home for nearly eight decades. Alongside her beloved late husband, Ira Daniel Branch, Jr., she built both a successful family business and a life rooted in service. Together they operated Branch's Grocery Store for more than half a century, creating a neighborhood institution that continues to serve the community today under her ownership.
Mrs. Branch also devoted nearly 30 years to public service with the State of North Carolina. From her work as a social worker to her leadership as Director of Dobbs School in Kinston and later as a division director at the O'Berry Center in Goldsboro, she dedicated her career to improving opportunities and outcomes for some of our State's most vulnerable citizens. Her compassion, professionalism, and commitment earned the respect of colleagues and those whose lives she touched.
Her influence reaches far beyond her professional accomplishments. Mrs. Branch is an active member of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in La Grange. She is an Emerita Member of the Board of Mothers and a former president of both the Lela Moore Home Mission Circle and the Daughters of Ebenezer. She has also broken barriers through her civic leadership, becoming the first African American member of the Board of Trustees of UNC Health Lenoir while lending her wisdom and experience to numerous local and statewide boards, commissions, and community organizations.
extraordinary service. Her century of leadership reminds us that lasting change is built through integrity, kindness, and an unwavering commitment to the common good.
Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mrs. Branch on the extraordinary occasion of her 100th birthday. On behalf of the 1st Congressional District of North Carolina, I thank her for her lifetime of service and wish her continued health, happiness, and many more blessings in the years ahead.