On Sunday, July 21, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., family and friends of former Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns will gather at the Berean Baptist Church to celebrate 90 years of a life well lived. He will share his big day with his son, Darryl C. Towns, whose 63rd birthday falls on the same day as his father’s. He is a longtime member of the church at 1635 Bergen Street in Brooklyn, New York, 11213. Dr. David Collins Forbes will deliver a special message. There will be a Happy Birthday Fellowship Reception immediately following the afternoon service.
Ed Towns, who served in the United States House of Representatives for 30 years, was born July 21, 1934, in Chadbourn, North Carolina, the son of Versie and Edolphus Towns. In 1960, he married Gwen Forbes, the sister of Dr. James Forbes, the first black pastor of the historic Riverside Church. He earned his B.A. in sociology at North Carolina A&T State University, where he played varsity basketball. An ordained minister, Towns served in the United States Army and later earned his MSW at Adelphi University School of Social Work. He served as Deputy Borough President of Brooklyn before running for Congress in 1982 with the mentorship of the late Shirley Chisholm.
Like his dad, Darryl Towns has enjoyed a successful career in public service. He served more than 15 years in the New York State Assembly, where he chaired the State Legislature’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus. He left his Assembly seat in 2011 when Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed him Commissioner and CEO of the New York State Homes and Community Renewal agency. He is currently Senior Public Affairs Executive and Regional Director for Government Affairs at American Airlines. On January 1, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul appointed him the New York State Parole Board chair. Ed and Gwen Towns have a daughter, Deidra Towns.
My journey with Ed Towns began during his tenure as Deputy Borough President. In 1983, then-borough President Howard Golden hired me to work in the communications office. I provided communications support to Ed during his initial congressional campaign. Our paths diverged, but our connection remained strong. We reconnected when I joined the faculty at Howard University in 2002 and supervised MSW interns in his office. He offered me a job on the Hill in 2010 when he served as chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. I served as his Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director and helped him create the Congressional Social Work Caucus, which he chaired until he retired in 2013.
Throughout his long and distinguished career, Congressman Towns brought millions of dollars to various projects in his District, the Borough of Brooklyn, and the City of New York. He shepherded over $20 million to projects in Brooklyn in fiscal year 2010 alone. He was elected chair of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1991. He championed the social work profession by introducing the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act in 2008, designed to address the profession’s workforce challenges by establishing a commission to analyze social workers’ issues comprehensively.
The birthday event will highlight the creation of a “Towns Room” in the church’s Community Life Center, a significant initiative dedicated to enhancing youth programmatic activities. “We are creating a space where young people can feel more at home in the church,” the former congressman said. “Like many schools, we see fewer resources devoted to social and civic activities for our youth. Watching the debate, I thought about how useful it would be to teach young people debating skills. They could engage in debates with youth in other faith-based settings. It’s better to debate than argue.” Ed Towns appreciates the value of the gift of gab. He has a reputation for being one of the best storytellers around.
Mr. Towns served on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees communications and technology. He believes creating youth-friendly church spaces could present opportunities for technology companies to invest in underserved communities. He is asking for donations to the church to create the Towns Room. Well-wishers can mail checks to Berean Baptist Church at the above address. Checks should be made payable to the church. Online contributions can be made through Zelle to trusteeroom@gmail.com.