Congresswoman Waters Mourns The Loss of Her Friend and Community Icon, Lillian Harkless-Mobley
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), issued the following statement on the passing of Lillian Harkless-Mobley, her friend and iconic South Los Angeles community activist.
"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 three 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 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."
###