[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 111 (Friday, July 22, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1391-E1392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS' STATEMENT ON THE LOSS OF HER FRIEND AND 
                COMMUNITY ICON, LILLIAN HARKLESS-MOBLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 22, 2011

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I am heartbroken that one of my closest and 
dearest friends, Lillian Mobley, has passed away. I worked with 
Lillian--known throughout South Los Angeles communities as ``Ms. 
Mobley''--for over 3 decades. We have marched together, participated in 
protests together, and fought off anyone who attacked our community 
together. Lillian was my `shero.'
  Lillian Mobley is without a doubt the most accomplished and 
successful community activist South Los Angeles has ever had. She 
helped found numerous community institutions and organizations that 
include Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital, Charles Drew Medical Center, 
Los Angeles Southwest College, Black Women's Forum, the Lillian Mobley 
South Central Multipurpose Senior Citizens Center, Mothers in Action, 
Grandma's Hands Los Angeles Birthing Project, Watts Towers Community 
Action Council and others. She is on the Walk of Fame in Watts, has a 
building named after her at the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation 
Center, a clinic at Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital that also houses a 
bust of her image, the Mother of Africa statue at WLCAC was dedicated 
to her as well as the amphitheater at Watts Towers and a Family Housing 
Center, and of course the senior center she founded that now carries 
her name.
  She served on the board of over 20 organizations and was highly 
sought after by politicians hoping to win her endorsement to be elected 
to office. And it was only if Lillian believed that their election to 
office would benefit the community and help preserve the very 
institutions she helped to create like Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital 
would she support them.
  Lillian Mobley is one of the icons of South Central and the Watts 
communities of Los Angeles that has helped to educate the city and

[[Page E1392]]

the country about the problems of poor people and working folks and the 
struggles that they encounter on a daily basis. She was the voice that 
articulated their pain, their challenges, their hopes and dreams. 
Lillian has joined the legendary African American women who have passed 
on but clearly left their marks on the hearts and souls of the people 
they fought for. Women like Mary Henry, Caffie Greene, Jonnie Tillman, 
Margaret Wright, Edna Aliewine and Opal Jones.
  We spent countless hours in meetings on issues related to health, 
seniors, youth, and education. Lillian was not only concerned with 
these issues, she tackled them with vigor. She was all about doing the 
work, even the `grunt work' as she liked to call it, to bring resources 
to help families and youth in South Central Los Angeles and Watts. She 
did all of this while battling with her own health issues. If Lillian 
was not at an important meeting it was only because she couldn't attend 
either due to her grueling dialysis schedule or because she was 
hospitalized. Lillian was a woman before her time who maintained her 
empathy and concern for the young and old. She was truly humble in her 
work and never asked or expected any recognition form of recognition 
from others.
  One of the greatest experiences we had together was taking 80 African 
American women on a trip to Africa. Lillian was so happy and proud to 
travel to the motherland and said it was one of the most enjoyable 
moments of her life. I will hold on to this and other fond memories I 
have of Lillian to help come to grips with this devastating loss.
  I join with other elected officials, community leaders, and the 
residents of South Central, Watts and South Los Angeles in paying 
homage to our queen, Lillian Mobley.

                          ____________________