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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
20-16
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
February 5, 2013
To posthumously recognize and honor the life of Edra R. Derricks of Ward 1, and to declare January 5, 2013 as “Edra R. Derricks Day” in the District of Columbia.
WHEREAS, Edra R. Derricks was born in the District of Columbia on December 17, 1919 to Gabriel M. Johnson and Willie Mae Bacon Johnson;
WHEREAS, Edra R. Derricks spent her early school years at the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in Bensalem, Pennsylvania;
WHEREAS, Edra R. Derricks returned to the District at age 16 to attend and graduate in 1940 from Cardozo High School in Ward 1;
WHEREAS, Edra R. Derricks attended Miner Teachers College in the District;
WHEREAS, Edra R. Derricks married Herbert Fred Ball, Sr. and together they had 9 children;
WHEREAS, Edra R. Derricks started her working life as an operator at the C & P Telephone Company and chose a career of teaching in the District of Columbia Public Schools system at the Bertie Backus Middle School from 1970 to 1993 in the math and science departments, and also taught at St. Augustine Catholic School in the 1970s and 1980s;
WHEREAS, Edra R. Derricks married Horace Derricks, Sr. in 1971;
WHEREAS, Edra R. Derricks, in her later years, helped to operate the Nation House Positive Action Center Watoto School from 1994 to 2008, where she was lovingly known as “Mama Derricks” and where she shared her love of African drum and dancing;
WHEREAS, Edra R. Derricks received numerous awards, including the International Training in Communications Louise C. Devault Community Service Award on December 12, 2006, an award from then Councilmember Adrian Fenty for Service to the Citizens of the District of Columbia on October 7, 2006, and an award of appreciation for her contributions to the District of Columbia Public Schools system upon her retirement on July 8, 1994;
WHEREAS, Edra R. Derricks served her community as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in the 1970s in Ward 5, a member of an Orange Hat Patrol, and worked extensively with numerous councilmembers, including Councilmember Jim Graham and former Councilmember Douglas Moore;
WHEREAS, Edra R. Derricks graduated from the first class of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Senior Citizens Police Academy Program on October 12, 2005;WHEREAS, Edra R. Derricks was a dedicated member of St. Augustine Catholic Church and served on multiple church committees working to help children and teens in the community; and
WHEREAS, “Mama Derricks” was loved, admired, and respected by all.RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Edra R. Derricks Posthumous Recognition Resolution of 2013”.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors Edra R. Derricks for her unconditional love, energy, dedication, and lasting contributions to this world and declares January 5, 2013 as “Edra R. Derricks Day” in the District of Columbia.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
