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Bokary Loum, 1960—2006
Bokary’s leaf is placed at the Family & Adult Service Center. If you have memories or photos of Bokary, please post them in Comments.
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Jose Marcos Lucio, 1962—1999
Words by Mona Joyner: “Jose Lucio was a very honest and dedicated worker through the Millionaire Club. He never missed work and he always volunteered for more. He had many friends and was well known in the streets in and around Seattle. It was with these friends whom he was fighting and when someone pushed him from the I-5 and Mercer Street overpass in Seattle. These same friends that he would drink with after a hard day’s work, also fought and killed him.
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Tonya “Sonshine” Smith, 1968—2006
Tonya’s leaf is placed at Angeline’s. If you have photos or memories of Tonya, please post a comment.
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Verna Maxwell, 1933—2001
Saying Goodbye to Verna Maxwell by Michele Marchand Originally published in Real Change November 15-28, 2001 Of all the things I did and all the things I said Let no one try to find out who I was An obstacle was there transforming The actions and the manner of my life An obstacle was often there To silence me when I began to speak -from “Hidden Things” by Constantine Cavafy During a recent renovation, Noel House shelter lost its archives. The archives, carefully prepared by a former staffperson, are contained in a simple scrapbook of photographs and clippings dating back to the shelter’s beginning. Its loss is unfortunate, since many…
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Jackie Ortega, 1952—2004
Jackie was well loved. She had housing at the time that she died, and was still active at Mary’s Place. A Women in Black vigil was dedicated to her memory. Jackie & her friend Queen are pictured in the 2004 Mary’s Place calendar, December: “We are friends to the end.” Queen and Jackie have helped each other through some difficult spots in their lives, and they’ve come out with a strong friendship and a stronger faith: “God is good. God is great. We are all a product of God’s goodness.” Featured Leaf December 2013
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Cynthia Ozimek, 1960—2005
Cynthia once wrote the following Self Portrait: Cynthia Lee Ozimek was born the daughter of an opera singer and sculptor turned steel worker on May 13, 1960. Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she attended college at St. Petersburg Jr. College in Tarpon Springs Florida and lived in both the state of Georgia and Arizona before moving to Seattle in the early 1990s. Despite suffering the ramifications of homelessness in the literal sense, Cynthia has found great joy, solace and belonging in the community of women where she has resided, on and off, for the past several years. To this end, she has made it her mission, through the written and spoken…
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Isaac Palmer, 1945—2007
Isaac Palmer died in June, 2007, when he was run over by brush mowers while he slept under I-5 near Massachusetts. A friend says, “You shared your camp with me. Thank you. You will be in our hearts and thoughts always. Still people talk of you. God bless you, rest Brother.” Isaac was also known as “Sonny.” Isaac’s Leaf is installed at the Seattle Justice Center. If you have stories or memories of Isaac/Sonny please post a comment. Featured Leaf June 2013
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Kim Peterson, 1956—2006
Messing in All God’s Business by Michele Marchand originally published in Real Change Just after Kim Peterson took her last breath, her mother turned to Pastor Pat Simpson of Church of Mary Magdalene and said, “She’s probably up there right now messing in all God’s business.” Kim was always messing in God’s business. She didn’t know the meaning of the words, “Leave well enough alone.” If there was even a minor injustice, Kim would speak up about it. If there was a glimmer of gossip, Kim would know about it, and would share it wherever she went. She was a fighter, until the end. She faced unimaginable and terrifying hardships–the…
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Cassandra “Cassie” Phillips, 1974—2010
Cassie Phillips was active in the founding of Nickelsville, in WHEEL homeless women’s organizing efforts, and at the Real Change street newspaper. In addition to selling Real Change, she was a member of the Real Change Editorial Committee and part of the Real Change Homeless Speaker’s Bureau. She made jewelry, crocheted and read tarot cards, and she was a published poet. Many people greatly miss her. Cassie got a room at Jubilee Women’s Center just a few weeks before her death. Her leaf is placed at Noel House.
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Cecelia “CC” Phillips, 1954—2009
Cecelia was a longterm member of Noel House who moved into housing. She’d been living at 1811 Eastlake when she died. Her body was found at 1st & Battery, a few blocks from Noel House. Cecelia’s leaf is placed at Noel House/Bakhita Gardens.
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Clinton Matthew Ray (“Ray Ray”), 1965—2004
Ray Ray loved life. He was a Native Alaskan of the Inupiak (Eskimo) tribe; a Christian; a gourmet trained chef who loved to cook. He was a gentle spirit who studied martial arts in Alaska. Ray Ray grew up in the Alaska foster care system, and struggled with alcohol addiction and other problems. He had a campsite south of downtown that included a garden he had planted. A friend says, “Clinton, I will always remember you and your lovely eyes. We used to picnic together and I enjoyed those times. You taught me how to do acrostics and gave me a recipe for salmon with a sauce to go on…
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Melody Rayl, 1965—2008
Melody’s leaf is placed at Angeline’s. If you have memories of Melody to share, please post in the comments.
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Brian Reitan, 1971—2009
. Brian’s leaf is placed at the Family & Adult Service Center. If you have memories or photos of Brian, please share them in comments.
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Rosetta Richardson, ?—1994
Rosetta was a dignified lady, with a great sense of humor. She was a longterm member of Noel House. Rosetta died at the shelter in spring 1994. Hers was the first death at the shelter. Rosetta’s leaf is placed at Bakhita Gardens/Noel House. If you have memories of Rosetta, please post in the comments. Featured Leaf February 2015
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Laura Scovell, 1968—2010
by Sharon Poole, Community Liaison, Noel House Programs: Not much is known about Laura Scovell and she wasn’t known for making friends. But her presence and impact on my experience working at emergency shelters was very significant. When I think of Laura, I’m reminded of why it’s so important to work on behalf of homeless women. Laura suffered from a mental illness that left her isolated and desperate. During the last several years of her life, it was clear that she spent her days and nights just trying to meet her basic needs at each given moment. It was easy to get frustrated with the way Laura asked for help…
