Nothing less than a picture perfect afternoon would do, although looking along Centre Avenue, the weather would not make a difference. There was nary a parking space on Centre Avenue and side streets as a community gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of Thelma W. Lovette. How fitting the memorial service took place at the Thelma Lovette YMCA, where most last saw her doing its 2012 dedication.
An estimated 500 people, some former Hill District residents and others from out of town, gathered in the gymnasium, where the program was held. The City of Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services Honor Guard and a bagpiper began the proceedings and presented the flags in tribute to Lovette's early support of the Freedom House Ambulance service, the forerunner of today's EMS. As he did at the buildings dedication, Rev. Dr. Johnnie Monroe, pastor emeritus of Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church, officiated.
Vocalist Karen Rice delivered three selections that were chosen by Lovette that mesmerized the audience with her pitch perfect a cappella.
Lovette remembered her parents taking her to the Centre Avenue Y. Her older brother Robert played basketball for the Y and she would watch him play. She would later start a Tri-Hi-Y Club for high school girls. She served as the first female board member for the Centre Avenue Y and for the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh. During her many years of faithful service to the YMCA, Lovette started a club for high school girls, which provided service and volunteer activities throughout the area. She also began a Healthy Living Group at the Centre Avenue YMCA for stroke victims.
Eric Mann, who was CEO of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh when the new Hill District facility was first announced, returned to share some of his memories.
"I would have regular meetings with her and she made sure I knew her priorities," said Mann. One of those was the Centre Avenue Y. Lovette persisted and on her 93rd birthday, he had the pleasure of sharing the news that not only would the Hill District get a new Y, but also that the new building would be named in her honor.
"Mrs. Lovette was a pillar of strength to the community and the YMCA movement. In 1996, Centre Avenue Y Director Paul Stoney nominated Mrs. Lovette as a Community Hero for the Olympic Torch relay," Mann said. "She was chosen to run a segment of the race, and the torch she carried now hangs in the lobby of the Thelma Lovette YMCA."
Reverend Monroe, her pastor for 15 years, said, "Whether encouraging a young person to pursue a career in social work, or chiding another for chewing gum, Mrs. Lovette's dedication to doing good work in the service of God made everyone around her "step up their game," said Dr. Monroe, a longtime friend. "She also knew how to correct and criticize and beat on you and make you love her for it."
Thelma Lovette Morris aka Little Thelma, talked about the wisdom her mother gave to young people--"where you start out may not be where you end up."
Lovette was a living example of that wisdom, Morris said. Her mother started out as a dishwasher and retired as supervisor of social works at Mercy Hospital in Uptown. She was a president of the board of the Hill District Community Development Corp., in addition to other involvement and activism in the neighborhood. And she participated in the 1963 March on Washington.
Her mother wasn't afraid to help others in a personal way, said Morris. During the riots that engulfed parts of the Hill District after the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., she confronted a group of men who were trying to kick in the door of a store. "Our neighbors had to drag her away because she was going to challenge them," Morris said. "She was small but mighty."
Morris, in the upbeat spirit of the occasion, said, "My mother would want all of you to remember to say your prayers, help others, dance and give thanks for all the blessings God has given you."
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