Zelda M. Humphrey

Passed away Thursday, December 27, 2012 in Oakland, at 83 years of age. A native of Leavenworth, Kansas, and long-time resident of the Montclair section of Oakland. Survived by her daughters, Melody Kelley of Oakland, Marjorie Humphrey of Sacramento, Leola Spencer of Sacramento and Margo Humphrey of Baltimore, Maryland; son, Richard Humphrey; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other kindred. Preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, James D. Humphrey in 2005; son, Bruce Humphrey in 2011; and grandson, Richard K. Robey in 2003. Zelda retired from Alameda County Social Services, as a Supervising Clerk III in the Children and Family Services Department, after 27 years of service. At the age of 60 she returned to college and received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2001, and returned for a second time to receive her Masters in Social Work in 2004, both with high honors from Holy Names College in Oakland. Her second career, with the West Oakland Mental Health Advocates as Case Manager became her passion. She received many awards in the mental health community for her tireless support of the mentally ill, including recognition for securing funding for the Humphrey-Hale House, whose purpose is to provide mental health wellness in the Bay Area. Zelda was active in the Albany Lioness Club for many years, where she was district president. She was dedicated to her family, and served on countless boards and commissions in the Oakland Catholic Diocese. One of Zelda’s greatest adventures was traveling to Jerusalem with her fellow Corpus Christi parishioners in the late 1970s. Zelda and James were founding members of the Mr. and Mrs. Club of the Bay Area, whose sole purpose was to celebrate the joy of marriage.

Friends and acquaintances are cordially invited to attend funeral services Thursday, January 3 at 1:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Sunset View Mortuary, top of Fairmount Avenue, El Cerrito, with viewing at 9:00 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Sunset View Cemetery. Memorial donations, if desired, may be made to a mental health organization in your community. Visit Zelda’s website at: http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/login.aspx