Memorial Service

Saturday, July 1, 2023

1:00 PM

Antioch Baptist Church

Rev. V. Nesbit, Pastor

Rev. Dr. R. Castle, Eulogist

Mary Lee Blair Moore was born July 1, 1942, to Mary Ann and Jack Blair in Wichita Falls, Tx. She passed away peacefully to her eternal reward on Sunday, June 11, 2023, when her earthly body could no longer keep pace with her spirit.

Ms. Moore, Mom, Grandma, Mary Lee, Maria, Mary, lived her life as large as her heart, and that life is her eulogy. The legacy she leaves as a mother, grand and great-grandmother, mentor, educator, and advocate of anyone in need is immeasurable.

She was a devoted mother, and community servant, in both her “born-town” of Wichita Falls and her “other” hometown of Waukegan, IL. She worked tirelessly on behalf of those who had
no voice or choice, to give them one. Any influence she gained was used to open a door (and hold it open) to create a pathway for others.

Most days began by filling her cup with God’s word in prayer and a daily devotional for strength to pour into others when the phone rang or when she talked with them along the way. She was
firm but fair and always bathed her words in love from a heart as big as Texas. The joy of the Lord was her strength.

She was an avid reader with an extensive library and a lifelong learner fueled by the challenge of gaining knowledge for herself and sharing, especially with young people. She believed EVERY
CHILD could learn and that a person’s poor behavior was not a reflection of who they were but what happened in their story.

She retired from civil service in early 2000 from the North Chicago Veterans Administration Medical Center and later Provena St. Therese Medical Center. In 2022 from Waukegan Independent School District 60 having found years of personal satisfaction as a short-term and
long-term substitute teacher, she also retired.

In her spare time, she was passionate about her household plants, community and regularly attended City Council meetings. She contributed heavily to crafting the Civil Service and Use of
Force policies before the resurgence of awareness raised by George Floyd, for the City of Waukegan as part of the Citizens for Progress Committee.

In her mid-70s, she graduated from the Citizen’s Police Academy and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. Every voting cycle for more than 25 years she served as an Election Judge in her precinct. Amid her extended health challenges over the past several years, she recently looked forward to returning to Aqua Aerobics at the Waukegan Field House.

Mary was the last of her five siblings: James, Harvey Lee, Willie Lee, Martha K., and Bessie Lee to transition to their heavenly home. She was baptized at an early age at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of the late Rev. Isaac Merrit where she was active in the Baptist Training Union and Choir.

She attended Booker T. Washington Schools and graduated from high school with the proud Leopard Class of 1960. She played clarinet in the band and sang in the Harry T. Burleigh Acapella Choir which traveled nationally. While she attended Houston-Tillostson and Midwestern State Universities in Texas, she earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education degree from Southern Illinois University in Healthcare Management and Workforce Education and Development.

She was married in 1971 to Sanders Moore Jr. for more than 25 years. Following their divorce, they remained best friends until his passing in 2010.

She was spiritually nourished at Waukegan Community Church (WCC) for more than 30 years and enjoyed supporting youth-focused projects, voter registration drives, and WCC’s Second
Half for Him (SHFH) small group ministry for seniors. In 2014, she completed a lifelong dream of traveling to Israel with the SHFH small group, being baptized in The River Jordan, and walking where Jesus had walked.

Mary leaves to cherish her memory a daughter and one son, Jacquelyn Green of Orange Park, FL, and Sanders Moore III of Waukegan, IL; her grandchildren, Levy Green, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL,
Dr. Brandon Green (Christina) of Silver Spring, MD, DeAndria Doby of Houston, Devin Jackson of Waukegan, IL and three great-grandchildren, stepson, Nick Moore of Texas, special niece, Equilla Luke, Ph.D. of San Diego, CA, niece, Jeanie Dinkins of Fayetteville, NC, Anne Smith, OK, special great-nieces Rhedonda Smith of Ft. Worth, TX, Donnita Tony of Waukegan, IL, and Joy Thomas of Waukegan, IL, special nephews: Rodrick Blair of Houston, TX, Barrett Stanley (Shunda) of Wichita Falls, and nephews, niece and great-nephews, David Smith, CO, Gregory and Todd Owens of San Antonio, William McKinney, Jr. and Cynthia Polk of Wichita Falls, Yusef Thomas of Waukegan, IL, special cousins: James Dixon (Lila) of CO, Ricky Hickmon (Gloria) of Wichita Falls, Andrea Williams of Wichita Falls, one brother-in-law, William Staton of Fayetteville, NC and two sisters-in-law, Rena McKinney of Wichita Falls, and Teresa Haywood (James) of San Antonio, TX. Dear “like daughters and like sons”, special friends of 50 years Nialani Harris, Jessie Hill, Ida Jones (Sylvester), Freddie Johnson, Louvenia Triplett, loving neighbors, and other dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Waukegan Community Church for the Student Scholarship Fund in honor of her commitment to youth in pursuit of higher education or trade, online at wcc.org. or via mail to Waukegan Community Church 1016 Grand
Ave. Waukegan, IL 60085.