Eddilera Emozel Kinzer

Eddilera Emozel Kinzer
July 27, 1925 – December 17, 2003
Unitarian Society of Germantown

• Educated at Wilberforce University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1946; completed postgraduate work at both Temple University and Westminster Choir College
• Began her career as an educator in Delaware; continued as an elementary school teacher and music consultant in the Division of Music with the School District of Philadelphia for almost forty years
• Served as organist choirmaster in several Delaware Valley churches
• Joined the Unitarian Society of Germantown in 1979 after noticing banners from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) during civil rights marches in the 1960s that resonated with her due to her avid participation in the civil rights movement; raised funds to restore the pipe organ
• Trustee-at-Large in the Middle Atlantic Joseph Priestly District of the UUA
• Member of the UUA Hymnal Revision Committee
• Trustee of the Meadville Lombard Theological School
• Served on the UUA Mid-Atlantic Regional Subcommittee on Candidacy to mentor women and men interested in ministry
• Honored in April 2000 with the Fifth Annual Rudolf Gelsey Social Justice Award by the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration in Mount Airy for her social justice and civil rights achievements, advocacy for both elders and children, and mentoring of aspiring ministers and seminarians
• Presented with the Unsung UU award in 2000 by the Joseph Priestly District of the UUA
• The Eddilera Kinzer Fund for Seminarians was established in 2001
• Was selected as the Philadelphia chapter of the Wilberforce Alumni Association honoree at the 2001 Inter-Alumni Council of the United Negro College Fund
• Past president and board member of the Northwest Interfaith Movement Board of Directors