Honor Penelope J. Stubbs

Senate Resolution No. 5682 BY: Senator PARKER MOURNING the death of Penelope J. Stubbs, Priestess of Oshun, distinguished citizen and devoted member of her community WHEREAS, The spiritual guidance and nurturing of the citizens of the State of New York is of great importance to the vitality and well-being of our communities; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to bring full recognition and just tribute to those men and women who accept the responsibility of moral leadership and render the wisdom of human understanding; and WHEREAS, Penelope J. Stubbs of Brooklyn, New York died on May 8,

2018, at the age of 77; and WHEREAS, Penelope Jocelyn Barbour was born to Bertha (Morton) and William Barbour on June 22, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York; she graduated from Jefferson High School in 1958, and married Ronald Stubbs, with whom she had a daughter, Deirdre Stubbs; and WHEREAS, From 1973-1995, Penelope J. Stubbs worked for the New York City Police Department, where she served in various capacities; she officially retired from the Department as a Staff Analyst; in this capacity, she served as an instructor in the Police Academy on 20th Street in Manhattan; and WHEREAS, During this time, Penelope J. Stubbs divorced her husband, worked, raised her daughter, and attended night school for many years, eventually receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from Medgar Evers College; and WHEREAS, Penelope J. Stubbs, affectionately known as Iya Penny, was part of the early Lucumi/Yoruba Revival Movement in New York; although a die-hard Brooklynite from birth, she did venture to Manhattan from time to time, and as a teenager in the 1950s, she spent time with Walter King (Oseijeman Adefunmi), Cristobal Oliana, Ronald Stubbs, Geoffrey Holder and other artists and intellectuals at Through African Doors, a cafe in the East Village; in the 1960s, she participated in the activities of the Yoruba Temple on 116th Street, and later on 119th Street and Lennox, in Harlem; and WHEREAS, On November 12, 1966, Penelope J. Stubbs was crowned as a Priestess of Oshun and given the spiritual name Oshun Guere, in the Lukumi/Yoruba spiritual tradition by Juana Manrique Claudio, iba'ye, a priestess of Yemaya from Cuba and Jose Manuel, iba'ye, a well-known Oriate and priest of Oya also from Cuba; and WHEREAS, In 1967, while still an iyawo, Penelope J. Stubbs and Cristobal Oliana beaded and mounted the first permanent exhibition of New World/Diaspora Yoruba art in the United States at the Museum of Natural History in New York City; from there, she would go on to crown six other priests and serve as ajugbona to numerous others; she was also one of the founding members of the Awo Osun Egbe in 1987; and WHEREAS, Penelope J. Stubbs will always be membered for her quick wit and humor and her many artistic skills; she tended to her beloved plants and liked to bake her famous bread pudding for others; and WHEREAS, As a member of Toastmasters International and an avid reader of novels, philosophy and Jungian psychology, she was also a gifted public speaker and conversationalist; she enjoyed the simple things in life such as "Jeopardy" and "Miss Marple Murder Mysteries," Birkenstock sandals, split pea soup with strawberry shortcake to-go from her beloved Juniors Restaurant, ice cream and her many feline friends; and WHEREAS, Even though she battled many health issues, Penelope J. Stubbs lived life to the fullest and truly enjoyed every minute of her blessed life; and WHEREAS, Predeceased by her ex-husband, Ronald Stubbs; her parents, Bertha and William Barbour; one brother, John Henry Barbour; and one godchild, Bisi Hightower, iba'ye; Penelope J. Stubbs is survived by her daughter, Deirdre Stubbs, one sister, Ellen Heyward; one brother, Khalil Barbour; five godchildren, Huberta Jackson-Lowman, William Lowman, Leonore Brazell, Henry Gaston, Akinlana Lowman, and many other family members, friends and the Lucumi/Yoruba community, all of whom will long cherish her memory; and WHEREAS, Penelope J. Stubbs brought to her ministry an overwhelming spirit of charity and compassion, acting from vision and enlightenment in conducting her administrative and spiritual duties, while always displaying the highest standards of personal and professional integrity and dedication; and WHEREAS, This distinguished woman always gave guidance and wisdom to the many entrusted to her care and administered abundantly and unstintingly to the spiritual and corporal needs of all; and WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of compassion, Penelope J. Stubbs leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all she served and befriended; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor the life and accomplishments of Penelope J. Stubbs, and to express its deepest condolences to her family, colleagues and friends who mourn her passing; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Penelope J. Stubbs.