10:56 | Dr. Meda Howard Chamberlain, former Regional Director for National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) in Northern and Southern California, passed away on August 05, 2011 at age 95.
Dr. Chamberlain, a native of Marshall, Texas, received her undergraduate degree in Education from Bishop College, Texas and a graduate degree in Psychology from USC. She was retired from the Whittier Unified School System, having specialized in Educational Counseling and Teacher Formation Training.
The recently deceased Civil Rights Leader, and NCNW Chair and President Emeritus, Dr. Dorothy I. Height saw great potential in Meda Chamberlain when she joined NCNW in 1962. Dr. Height subsequently appointed her Executive Director of the Southern California Area, which she served for nearly 30 years.
Dr. Chamberlain was one of the founding members and first President of the NCNW View Park Section of Los Angeles, as well as a Legacy Life Member and served as an NCNW National Officer.
She organized several federally funded projects for NCNW’s CETA program; the first being the H.O.N.O.R. Project (Helping Our Neighborhoods Older Residents) in 1977 under United Way and the Jobs Program, which trained and employed hundreds of men and women in Los Angeles County.
Another major leadership accomplishment was to discover and coordinate the purchase of a building serving the local NCNW sections as “Council House” at 3720 W 54th St., Los Angeles. In l981 she organized the first food co-op at the NCNW Council House and spearheaded the Education 2000 National Program with math, reading and science components.
As recently as 2009 Dr. Chamberlain was appointed to serve on President Obama’s “Kitchen Cabinet” and she continued until her health began to fail.
Dr. Chamberlain remained an active member and intricate part of the National Council of Negro Women until her death. She was a devout Christian. Her husband, William Chamberlain, an engineer and a veteran, preceded her in death.
Funeral arrangements are: Public viewing on Friday, August 12, 2011, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Spaulding Mortuary, 3045 S La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90016-3902.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at St Paul’s Baptist Church, 100 W. 49th Street Los Angeles Ca 90037, at the corner of Main Street and 49th Street .
For additional information please contact her sister, Mary Bush at (310) 885-5990 or call Carolynn Martin, President NCNW Los Angeles View Park Section at (323) 301-469 or at her mobile number, (310) 686-4849.