*Kathryn B. Humphrey

Kathryn B. Humphrey was born in Champaign, Illinois in 1923. In 1913, her parents, Jesse and Vinnie Britt moved to Champaign, Illinois from Huntington, Tennessee, seeking a better life for themselves and their ten children (five boys and five girls). Kathryn attended Champaign Senior High School in 1941. After graduation, she worked as a domestic. Later, she was employed by the City of Champaign Recreation Department, going to different schools during outside recess time to engage the pupils in learning to play different games, and then to the Douglass Center, working with the junior and senior high school students.

In 1943, she was married to John C. Humphrey, a former Airman and in February, 1946, to this union was born a son, who in later years served in the U. S. Army. He is presently married.

Later, she was employed by the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine as a Laboratory Attendant, and enrolled in science classes at the University of Illinois relating to her job. She remained in this position until her retirement in 1987 after 32 years of service.

Kathryn served as a member of the Unit 4 Board of Education, as Trustee of the Champaign Township Supervisor's Office, as Secretary of the Office from 1983-1990. She was a Board Member of the University of Illinois' Employees Credit Union from 1978-1995 and served on the Credit Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Board for two years.

As a lifetime member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, she taught a Sunday School Class and served in many other capacities. She was a supportive member of the Douglass Senior Center Group and is the Co-Founder of the Gamma Upsilon Psi Society, which sponsors the Annual Cotillion. She completed two five-year terms with the MTD Board of Champaign-Urbana. She was a Charter Member of the Champaign County Section of the National Council of Negro Women. In 1989, she was named "Citizen of the Month," and she has been the recipient of many other awards. Her most rewarding experience was having the honor to travel with the group to join in the Dr. Martin Luther King National March for Justice from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

Kathryn Humphrey passed away on January 31, 2012. She is survived by her son, two grandsons, eight great-grandchildren, one brother, one sister-in-law, one brother-in-law, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.  

An * next to the name within bio denotes original charter members of the Champaign County Section of the National Council of Negro Women.