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Weir Mac Cuish Family Funeral Home 144 Salem Street, Malden, MA 02148 A member of the Malden Community since 1896 |
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Natalie L. Desmond
1933 - 2009
Natalie LaVerne Desmond, died on January 8, 2009 in Washington, DC. She was a warm, loving, and caring woman whose love of God and deep commitment to family guided her throughout her life. She was born in Malden, Massachusetts, on February 28th, 1933. Her father, the late Harold T. Desmond, held a special place in his heart for Natalie, as her engaging smile and upbeat personality always lifted his spirits and brought a smile to his face. Her mother, the late Alyce P. Desmond-Wood, loved Natalie and, along with her second husband, the late David B. Wood, were the guiding forces that shaped her intellectual and social development. Natalie attended elementary and secondary school in Malden, Massachusetts. An avid reader and intellectually curious student, she excelled in her studies and graduated in 1950 from Malden High School. Her keen intelligence, highly developed skills, and her engaging personality enabled her, in 1951, to obtain a position with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In a matter of years, she gained the attention of Governor John A. Volpe who, upon appointment by President Nixon as Secretary of Transportation, brought Natalie to Washington, DC, as a member of his administrative support team. Over the course of her 30 year career in Washington, Natalie served in the administration of eight Secretaries of Transportation, ending her career under the administration of Secretary Elizabeth Dole. Natalie loved the sophisticated culture and social graces of life in Washington. And her professional contacts and countless friends enabled her to move seamlessly in Washington’s governmental, civic, and social circles. While in Washington, she devoted the major portion of her time to two areas of personal concern to her. First, she was a devoted member and active congregant at the Second Baptist Church Southwest. At Second Baptist, she served on numerous committees and volunteered wherever she was needed. In particular, she enjoyed service on the scholarship Committee and on any committee focused on the development of the Church’s youth. In addition to her Church service, Natalie was an avid volunteer and energetic activist for the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen was the popular name given to the courageous Black pilots who flew with distinction during World War II as the 332nd Fighter Group of the US Army Air Corps. For more than two decades, she worked with the Tuskegee Airmen to bring before Congress and the Nation recognition of the major role the airmen played in maintaining American superiority over the skies of Europe during World War II. Natalie departed this life on January 8th and was preceded in death by her mother, Alyce P. Desmond-Wood, her father, Harold T. Desmond, her step-father, David B. Wood, and four of her sisters and a brother, Grace Harris, Marion Haygood, Elaine, Eleanor and Wesley. She leaves to cherish her memory her sister, Clara Stepherson and her brother, Harold, her brother Kenneth and his wife Marion, and her brother Charles and his wife Phyllis. Her memory will also be held dear by her many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and many close and loving friends. Natalie’s visiting hours and funeral service will be held at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, 20 Hillside Ave., Malden, on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 1 PM. Friends and relatives may call at the church two hours prior to the service from 11AM - 1 PM. Interment to follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to “Emmanuel Baptist Church Building Fund” 20 Hillside St, Malden, MA 02148 or the Second Baptist Church Southwest, P.O. Box 71560, Washington, DC 20024 in memory of Natalie L. Desmond. Arrangements in the care of the Weir-Mac Cuish Golden Rule Funeral Home, 144 Salem St., Malden, MA
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