Lillian F. S. Black's Obituary
Lillian Frances Sylvia Washington (Black) was born on October 26, 1933, in Baldwin Park, California, to the union of parents Earnest Theodore and Mary Amelia Ruth Washington. She was the eighth of 7 sisters and 4 brothers.
Lillian had a renaissance and pioneering spirit, and lived a life defined by love, family, service, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of others. While her immediate family (who lovingly referred to her as “the Mothership”, “Queen Bee”, “Lilybug”, “Lilla-reno”, and “Ladybug”) were afforded her time, love, nurturing, advisement, care, kindness, and sense of humor, on a regular basis, so too, were those within her valued friendship circles, if, and whenever needed.
In her earlier years, following graduation from Covina High School, in Covina, CA, Lillian went on to graduate from the California School of Nursing in Los Angeles, CA, as a Registered Nurse (RN) in 1956. Her job search eventually led her to Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Ill., where she accepted a nursing position in the Children’s Hospital.
Not long after being hired, Lillian was promoted to Nurse Supervisor in the Children’s Hospital/Maternity Ward and was the only African American Nurse Supervisor in the unit at that time. She approached this added responsibility with mix of excitement, pride, determination, confidence, kindness, knowledge, and humility.
Despite the racial challenges she encountered, Lillian thrived and continued to enjoy this work. After several rewarding years at Cook County Hospital, she returned to southern California in 1958, with the practical nursing experience she acquired and leadership skills she mastered, equipped and prepared to embark on her next life and career journey.
As fate would have it, Lillian met the love of her life, Floyd Armstrong Black, in 1957, while visiting her cousin, Gloria June Black and husband, Robert “Buddy” Black (Floyd’s older brother), who lived in San Francisco, CA or “Frisco”, as it was often called. On September 26, 1959, Lillian married Floyd Amstrong Black, who worked for the U.S. Postal Service, Rincon Annex Station (San Francisco).
Lillian and Floyd settled in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park community. Soon thereafter, the Blacks would welcome three children, Floyd Jr. (Guy), Darryl, and Tracey.
The Black family moved from San Francisco to Hayward, CA in 1965. Lillian continued her nursing career at Eden Medical Center (formerly known as Eden Hospital) in Castro Valley.
She worked in multiple areas, including the ER, OR, Recovery, and Pediatrics - her favorite. During that time, Lillian became a member of the California Nurses Association and later, a member of the National Black Nurses Association.
After many fulfilling years of working as an RN in the hospital setting, Lillian returned to school to obtain a specialization in Public Health, with dual emphases in Maternal/Child & Community Health, expanding on her interest in public health. She soon began work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) for the Alameda County Public Health Department and Regional Center of the Eastbay, respectively.
In search of a more responsive and meaningful academic experience for their children, the Black family moved from Hayward to Oakland, CA in 1975. Lillian took pride in her work as a Public Health Nurse and carried these values, pride and compassion into every aspect of her professional and personal life. She retired from a successful career as an RN/PHN, from the Regional Center of Eastbay in 1992.
Lillian enjoyed listening to all genres of music, including classic jazz, gospel, classical, and contemporary jazz; and especially loved listening to live music performances by her nieces and nephews. She was a lifelong learner and bibliophile, with an adventurous epicurean spirit. Lillian enjoyed exploring and learning about diverse food experiences from taking Thai cooking classes to dining out in the East Bay and was an avid consumer of PBS-KQED’s “Check Please Bay Area” and “America’s Test Kitchen”. If the opportunity existed to build on her existing knowledge, from health care, to cooking, to crafting, to doll-making, Lillian had already completed early registration.
In addition to her professional and family life, Lillian was an accomplished seamstress, crafter, doll artist, and proud member of the American Black Beauty Doll Artists (ABBDA) in Oakland. Her interest in doll artistry started in 1991 and never stopped. Lillian found that working in doll artistry not only relieved daily stresses, but grief, which she experienced following the sudden passing of her husband, Floyd A. Black, Sr., in 1996. Through her artistry, she celebrated culture, beauty, and representation, creating works that honored cultural heritage and affirmed identity. Lillian’s creative pursuits were both a personal passion and a meaningful contribution to a broader cultural tradition.
A devoted community advocate, particularly for children, families, and seniors, Lillian believed strongly in collective responsibility and consistently gave of her time, voice, and energy to uplift and help others.
Lillian leaves to mourn her children, Guy and Cecilia Black - Oakland, CA; Darryl and Bettye Black – Las Vegas, NV; daughter, Tracey Black – Oakland, CA; step-daughter, Janice Harris, Union City, GA; sisters, Ella Beatrice Loatman – Los Angeles, CA and Josephine Black – Fontana, CA; cousins, Howard and Susan Lewis – Las Vegas, NV; and a host of beloved nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, great-great nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and dearest of friends.
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