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.