1.1A Senate resolution
1.2honoring the memory of Willie Mae Webb.
1.3WHEREAS, Willie Mae Webb was born in Dumas, Arkansas, on October 30, 1924, and
1.4confronted much racism and discrimination before graduating from high school in Muskogee,
1.5Oklahoma, and receiving a teaching degree in Home Economics from Tuskegee University in
1.61947; and
1.7WHEREAS, at Tuskegee, Willie Mae worked in the house of the President, Dr. Frederick
1.8Patterson, founder of the United Negro College Fund, as a nanny to his son, Frederick, Jr., and
1.9as a cook for many special dinners, hosting the likes of President Harry S. Truman, W.E.B.
1.10DuBois, and Mahalia Jackson; and
1.11WHEREAS, during this time, she married McClinton Webb, moved to Minneapolis, and
1.12joined Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church in 1950, where she gave as much to her church
1.13as she did her family; and
1.14WHEREAS, at her church, she worked tirelessly as a Sunday school teacher for almost
1.1550 years, served on several boards and auxiliaries, and was President of Bethesda Missionary
1.16Baptist Church Deaconness Board for more than 20 years; and
1.17WHEREAS, since no African American women at that time were being hired to teach in
1.18the Minneapolis Public School System, she began to work full-time at Honeywell, where she
1.19blazed the trail for equality and many of the benefits we take for granted today; and
1.20WHEREAS, always seeking to improve the plight of others, she became the first black
1.21woman union shop steward and immediately began to fight for medical coverage, maternity leave,
1.22and the ability of the employees to select their vacation times; and
2.1WHEREAS, after retiring from Honeywell in 1974, she opened the Happy Tots Day Care
2.2Center, which often served as a food shelf, housing assistance center, battered women's service,
2.3and a myriad of other social services; and
2.4WHEREAS, she served for 25 years as the first president of the Metropolitan Women's
2.5District Association, addressing issues of drug addiction, the plight of teen mothers, and other
2.6issues of concern to the African American community; and
2.7WHEREAS, she died at Fairview Southdale Hospital on January 24, 2014, at the age
2.8of 90; and
2.9WHEREAS, she will be remembered as the rock of the Webb family and the matriarch of
2.10an extensive extended family who, through sheer grit and determination and an unwavering belief
2.11in God, was a servant of the Lord and a pioneer in her church, community, and work place; and
2.12WHEREAS, she and her husband McClinton were married for 62 years, raised four
2.13children, and made a tremendous contribution to the city of Minneapolis and the community
2.14of South Minneapolis; and
2.15NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that
2.16it honors the memory of Willie Mae Webb, celebrates her contributions to her community, and
2.17extends condolences to her four children, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, three
2.18brothers, four sisters, and all who knew her.
2.19BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare
2.20an enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that
2.21of the Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to the family
2.22of Willie Mae Webb.

JoAnne M. ZoffSecretary of the Senate

Thomas M. BakkChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration

Jeff HaydenState Senator, District 62