Kathryn B. Humphrey was born in Champaign, Illinois in 1923.
Her parents, Jesse and Vinnie Britt moved to Champaign, Illinois
from Huntington, Tennessee, in 1913, seeking a better life for
themselves and their 10 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 and has
2 sons.
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;
served as Trustee of the Champaign Township Supervisor's Office;
as Secretary of the Office from 1983 - 1990; A Board Member of
the University of Illinois' Employees Credit Union from 1978-1995;
serving on the Credit Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Board
for 2 years.
As a lifetime member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, she teaches
a Sunday School Class and serves in many capacities. She is 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 just completed a second 5-year term with
the MTD Board of Champaign-Urbana; 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.
She is a Charter Member of the Champaign County Section of the
National Council of Negro Women.
Kathryn
B. Humphrey