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Lillie M. Hamberlin: Fostering others
By None
ROCKFORD WOMAN
Dec 20, 2007 @ 01:00 AM
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Born and raised in Rockford, Hamberlin quit school at age 15 to get a job and care for her ailing mother. After her mother died, she was in foster care for a year. She has been active in Pilgrim Baptist Church for decades and, for 18 years, has worked at agencies finding foster homes for children.
Age: Senior citizen
City of residence: Rockford
Family: Daughter, A-Derangnna Armor, 45, who lives in Alabama and is in charge of food buying and preparation at federal prisons. Grandson Robert Armor, 17. Foster daughter Beverly Tucker, 52
Education: GED; Rock Valley College; bachelor’s in child development and education from Rockford College in 1990
Jobs: National Lock Co. 16 years; hardware store clerk; nanny; seamstress; milliner; foster home recruiter for Division of Children and Family Services, 16 years; same job for Our Children’s Homestead, two years
Community: Sunday school teacher at Pilgrim Baptist for decades; president of Lydian Ministry; on Pilgrim welcoming committee; active in culinary and drama projects at Pilgrim
Daily challenges:
Explaining to potential foster parents that they can handle a teenage child, explaining what these kids have been through and that they just need time to heal.
What I’m good at:
Relating to teens. I’ve always taught teenagers in Sunday school. Like many older people, I can relate to them easier than some younger adults. I love to sew and make much of my own clothes, and my hats, and people seem to like my cooking.
Most rewarding:
When a foster child or former Sunday school student is in college and tells me they’ve decided to make something of themselves.
Role models:
The Rev. Gilbert (Eldridge Sr.). He believed in education and stayed on us.
Going back to school:
I got my GED and went to Rock Valley, which was hard. At Rockford College, I found out I was dyslexic and learned to deal with it. After that, I made the honor roll every semester but one.
Memorable experience:
A teacher telling me I was not college material. He told me to go home. I said I didn’t pay $300-plus an hour to go home. After I got my degree, I went back to see him. I said, “Be careful what you say to people.” That’s why I tell them, “There will always be someone to put you down. Don’t let them.”
Tough times:
I fought lung cancer in 1980 and had surgeries after two accidents. When I was at Rock Valley, I was going to classes with a mask, a cane and a hard neck brace for nine months. One semester I only passed one class. But I went back.
What you tell young women:
Be a lady. You are what you think of yourself, not what someone else thinks. Don’t bend, don’t bow. If people don’t reach up to that level, hey, bye bye.
Most satisfying:
Raising my daughter to be an educated, self-sufficient adult, and seeing her raise a son who is an A student. Also, graduating from Rockford College and being on the school’s Distinguished Scholar list. I wouldn’t take a million dollars for that. Being named outstanding recruiter in Illinois for the One Church, One Child adoption program. Listed in Who’s Who in America.
Remembered for?
If God gives me the strength to do something, He will give me the reward.
If you had been born now?
I would go as far as I could in school. I’d be a doctor or a lawyer, have two degrees.
To relax:
I sew or read the Bible. I love to travel; I’ve been to Europe, Greece, the Holy Land, the Caribbean, Egypt. I’d like to go to Australia and southern Africa.
A pet peeve:
Women who go out in sweatsuits or, worse, pajamas. Every woman should look her best every time she steps. You never know what opportunity will come up. It’s that first impression, you know.
Current goal:
Learning to use a computer.
