Zella Nash always dressed to the nines.  She’d wear a long floral skirt and an eye-popping top with a big scarf wrapped around her shoulders and a couple layers of big bold jewelry.  She was always made up, lipstick and a hefty dose of rouge, and had that look — that same cagey, “I know what’s what, don’t think I don’t” look that she has in the picture that was with her death notice in today’s paper.  “Zella Nash died,” I said to my husband.  “She was a hundred and two.”  Zella died.

Nash, Zella Entered into Eternal Life at the age of 102 years, on September 14, 2010. Visitation Monday, September 20, 2010, at the Leon L. Williamson Funeral Home from 3:30 to 7 PM. Family hour 6-7PM. Combined Services Tuesday, September 21, 2010, at Tabernacle Community Baptist Church, 2500 W. Medford Ave. Visitation 10AM until Funeral Services at 11AM. Interment Wood National Cemetery.

The death notice left out the fact that she was an elected SDC (Social Development Commission) Area Council member; that she attended a million meetings representing her neighborhood; and that she had no fear of calling out fancy pants planners for having silly ideas. That Ms. Nash also rode on a bus with a hundred other SDC Area Council members to attend the National People’s Action Conference in D.C. – twice in 1993 and 1994 (when she was 85) – was also skipped.  Zella Nash was a fixture in our world at SDC.  I can see her now, sashaying out of her apartment to get into my car for a ride to the Program Committee.  She’d be swaying back and forth, graceful with her cane, but about her business, ready to go.  And always with that look on her face – raised eyebrows, little smile, happy eyes.  Ms. Nash was a sweet woman, mostly kind, but not to be underestimated or stereotyped.  I learned that one night when we were debating gun control at Program Committee and she let mention that she herself was packin’ that very minute.  As in carrying a gun?  Holy crap!  That’s what she keeps in that huge bag. Get out of town!!

Ms. Nash was one of 88 elected SDC Area Council members.  You heard right.  When Ms. Nash served, there were 8 Area Councils, each with 11 members.  Each of the members also served on a Standing Committee – like Employment or Housing, or Aging or the Coordinating Council or the Program Committee.  One was selected to serve on the Commission itself.  Community involvement back then was the absolute real deal – a manifestation of the concept of “maximum feasible participation” that was incorporated into the War on Poverty legislation enacted in the 1960′s. And it could be wild, let me tell you.  But mostly it was people like Ms. Nash trying to help people like me from making stupid mistakes.  “Honey, that won’t work.”  Or just a couple little shakes of the head. She saved my bacon more than once. 

SDC got rid of the Area Councils.  Too messy.  Too expensive to staff.  Too great a risk of an insurgency.  I guess I don’t criticize that.  Different times require different strategies.  But the anti-poverty world still needs that keepin’ it real influence and we need regular doses.  A couple of public hearings and brushing past folks at a neighborhood clean-up doesn’t cut it. 

I drove Ms. Nash in my car.  We sat in meetings together.  We discussed what we were doing.  We made decisions.  And we did it every month.  Month after month. Year after year. To me, that’s the gold standard.  I’m glad I knew Zella Nash.  Real glad.