TRIBUTE TO AUDR1A M. THOMAS SIMPSON-HUNTINGTON
WHEREAS, In His infinite wisdom, almighty God has granted eternal rest to Audria M. Thomas Simpson-Huntington, a remarkable educator and outstanding leader of her community, at the age of 87; and
WHEREAS, Audria began her life journey on September 15, 1927 in Bessemer, Alabama. It was there she attended Paul Laurence Dunbar and Pipe Shop elementary schools. She graduated from Arthur Harold Parker Vocational High School in Birmingham, Alabama as one of the top ten of her class and matriculated at Alabama A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. Later in life, she earned a Master of Business Administration from Northern Illinois University; and
WHEREAS, Audria M. Thomas Simpson-Huntington began a career as an educator teaching in Dixon Mills, Alabama at Marengo High School and retired from the Chicago Public Schools after more than four decades of exemplary service. Her career path was diverse, having taught all ages from second grade all the way through college level courses in various venues such as the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA in Atlanta, Georgia, several Chicago Public Schools (most notably at Kelvyn Park High School as a home economics teacher and Future Homemakers of America advisor), the Office of Equal Education Opportunity, the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, the Cook County Jail, and the Illinois Training Schools for Girls in Geneva; and
WHEREAS, Audria M. Thomas Simpson-Huntington took an active leadership role in many civic and political endeavors. She was a representative in the Senate of National Silver Haired Congress and president of its Illinois chapter, served as chair of the Senior Advisory Council for her State Representative, and was Ombudsman with Chicago Department on Aging. Audria was active with community organizations in support of the late Mayor Eugene Sawyer and the Sixth Ward. She was a driving force behind registering voters for the election of the late Mayor Harold Wa...
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