Washington, Oct 18--Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) released the following statement today on the passing of Dr. Mildred Jefferson, the first African-American woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School and a dedicated pro-life activist.

NRLC Photo: Dr. Jefferson at the 2008 National Right to Life Convention.

"Dr. Jefferson was always graceful. She embodied compassion," said Smith, co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus.

"A trailblazer of her time, she was the first African-American woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School and the first female surgical intern at Boston City Hospital. From the earliest years of the right to life movement, she dedicated herself to the cause, always beautifully articulating the humanity of unborn children."

Dr. Jefferson passed away Oct. 15 at the age of 84.

Smith said, "She should be best known for her own eloquent description of why she stood in solidarity with the unborn fighting day in and day out for their first right, the right to life. In her own words, 'I became a physician in order to help save lives. I am at once a physician, a citizen, and a woman, and I am not willing to stand aside and allow the concept of expendable human lives to turn this great land of ours into just another exclusive reservation where only the perfect, the privileged, and the planned have the right to live.'"

"Poised and passionate, always focused and extremely devoted, she made history and inspired an entire generation of pro-life leaders. It was an honor to work alongside Dr. Jefferson on critical pro-life issues, and I know her legacy and memory will live on in the lives of the unborn children she helped save," said Smith.

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