Wyvetter H. Younge, an Illinois state representative who served East St. Louis for more than three decades, will lie in state Friday in the school that carries her esteemed name.
Younge passed away a day after Christmas (Friday, Dec. 26, 2008) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital from complications following surgery on a bleeding artery on Dec. 9. She was 78.
Visitation for the political and civic leader who devoted her life to East St. Louis will be from 2-6 p.m. Friday, January 2 at the Wyvetter H. Younge Middle School, 3939 Caseyville Ave.
Younge’s funeral service will be held at noon Saturday, January 3 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 2235 Bond in East St. Louis.
A lifelong resident of East St. Louis and mother of five, Younge was elected to the Illinois House in 1975 and was its senior member when she passed.
Former Mayor Carl E. Officer remembers her as a “passionate public servant with decades of tireless commitment to bringing resources to the least of these in her community.”
Office said, “She will be sorely missed.”
Younge’s compassion for all she served was demonstrated in March, when she publicly prayed for a thief after being robbed of $7 at gunpoint in her home.
East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. said Younge was “instrumental in helping former Gov. George Ryan bring money to East St. Louis to develop all of these schools that are in this community that are practically brand new.”
The former Landsdowne Middle School was rebuilt and re-named in Younge’s honor in honor of her commitment to education.
Margaret Hewitt, Younge’s daughter, hopes the community Younge loved “will remember my mother as being devoted and dedicated to the people of East St. Louis.”
She says her mother “drove 90 minutes each way to Springfield every day so she could see her children in the mornings and evenings.”
Lifelong friend and fellow civic leader Dr. Lena Weathers called Younge “a strong person.”
”She stood by her goals and made opportunities where it seemed none existed,” Weathers said.
She said before Younge launched her political career “we didn’t have anyone to work for East St. Louis in particular.”
A graduate of Lincoln Senior High School, Younge earned an undergraduate degree from Hampton University.
In 1953, Younge earned a law degree from Saint Louis University. Twenty years later, Younge earned another law degree from Washington University.
From 1955 to 1957, Younge was an assistant circuit attorney in the city of St. Louis. She then practiced private law before seeking elected office.
Under Illinois state law, the local Democratic committee will select Younge’s replacement within 30 days.
Young is survived by her daughter Margaret Hewitt and a son, Torque Younge, both of East St. Louis; two stepsons, Richard Younge, Jr. of Lithonia, Ga., and Roland Younge of St. Louis; a sister, Ruth H. Hill of O’Fallon, Ill.; two brothers, Roscoe Hoover of St. Louis and Herbert Hoover of Lutz, Fla.; and eight grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her husband of 49 years, attorney Richard Younge Sr.; a daughter, Ruth Younge; and a sister, Cecile Edwards.
Additional contributing reporting for this article was provided by James Ingram.
