The Honorable Donna F. Edwards
Honoring the Life of Sylvia Frasier
September 28, 2013
Mr. Speaker, it is with great sorrow that I rise today to pay tribute and to honor the life of Sylvia Frasier, who was one of 12 dedicated civilian employees and contractors that were senselessly murdered at the Navy Yard in Washington, DC, on September 16. Mass shootings are always difficult to bear. My heart breaks for their loved ones and for the tight-knit military, government, and contractor community found in the Washington metropolitan area.
As her funeral service is tomorrow at the Rhema Christian Center Church in Northeast Washington, DC, I want to remember the legacy Ms. Frasier leaves behind. She earned a bachelor of science in computer information systems and a master’s in information systems. Ms. Frasier worked at Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) as an information assurance manager since 2000. Her duties at NAVSEA included providing policy and guidance on network security, and assuring that all computer systems operated by the headquarters met Department of Navy and Department of Defense requirements.
According to those that knew her best – her family and colleagues – Ms. Frasier was a friend to everyone she met and a stranger to no one. One friend stated that her personality was “bright, just like her blond hair, and lit up a room.” A colleague at work recalled what she would miss most about Sylvia are all the jokes they shared at the beginning of their phone calls before they got down to business. In a statement, her family said “if there are any words to describe her, it would be faithful, family oriented, and dedicated professional.”
Ms. Frasier’s outgoing personality just wasn’t suited to sitting still. She had choir rehearsal every Saturday morning, church on Sunday mornings, lots of travel for the Navy, friends and family to spend time with, and yet she still worked a second job in the evenings and on weekends because she was a people person.
Ms. Frasier was a deaconess, altar counselor, and member of the arts and music ministry at Rhema Christian Center Church. So, her faith was obviously very important to her.
Sylvia Frasier’s record of service was characterized by sacrifice, by hard work and dedication to duty, and most of all by achievement. She leaves behind a legacy of service that others can aspire to.
Now that her time on earth has come to a needlessly premature end, it is my hope that Sylvia Frasier has found the peace she has earned. On behalf of this House, I extend the thanks of a grateful nation and our sincere condolences to James and Eloise Frasier, her parents; each of her siblings and their families; and to the many friends whose lives she touched. My thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathy go out to all of the victims of this horrendous tragedy and their families. May God continue to comfort and sustain each of you.
