Willie Pearl Wisham Perry

Dr. Willie Pearl Wisham Perry, aged 80, died Nov. 25, 2011 at Georgetown University Hospital of complications from acute myeloid leukemia. Beloved sister of Claybron (Evelyn) and Morris (Mary) Wisham of Cleveland, Ohio, Willie Pearl was born in Newport, Arkansas the only daughter of five children to Charles and Willie O. Wisham. She attended Cedar Street Elementary School and graduated with honors from Scipio A. Jones High School in 1949. After graduation, she initially enrolled in Arkansas AM&N College and was a charter member of the Alpha Rho Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Financial hardship forced a brief transfer to Wilberforce University, then her move to Cleveland for work. While in Cleveland, she became a registered medical technologist with the Cleveland Clinic before transferring to The Ohio State University and graduating with honors in 1958. After college, Willie Pearl briefly worked in California and Pennsylvania as a research scientist before entering Columbia University where she earned a Master's Degree in Administrative Medicine and a Doctorate in Health Planning from the School of Public Health, in 1970 and 1976, respectively. Her 12-year marriage to Bill Perry ended in divorce and she relocated to Washington, DC to work for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (formerly HHS). While at HEW, she soon became one of the country's foremost authorities on public health policy and planning, and served as a loaned executive to the State Department, the Panama Canal Commission and the Japan-US Friendship Commission. She retired as a senior policy analyst after a 30-year career. Willie Pearl was actively engaged in Washington politics, volunteering on numerous political campaigns and serving as a member of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. She advocated for tenants rights as a long-time board member for the Tenant's Advocacy Coalition (TENAC) and Waterside Towers Tenant's Association Board of Directors. An avid traveler, Willie Pearl visited Australia, Latin America and several European countries, including Russia and the Czech Republic during her lifetime. She also flew aboard the Concorde before the aircraft retired from service in 2003. Passionate about classical music, she particularly loved the New York City Metropolitan Opera and treasured a personal friendship with opera legend Luciano Pavarotti. Willie Pearl is preceded in death by her parents, and two older brothers, Charles and Welton. In addition to her younger brothers, she is survived by six nieces, Lorna Wisham, Karen Hudson (Sean), Michelle and Deborah Wisham, Belinda Lockett and Paula Wisham; one nephew, Welton Jr.; several grand-nieces and nephews and many devoted friends. To honor her life in Little Rock, the family would appreciate contributions to Scipio A. Jones High School Alumni Association, P.O. Box 5445, North Little Rock, Ark. 72119-5445 in memory of Dr. Willie Pearl Wisham Perry.