Yolanda V. Purnell

Yolanda Modjeska Valentine Purnell, second born to Agatha Baul Valentine and Melvin H. Valentine. She was born June 7, 1931, in a small section of the northwest portion of Philadelphia. She attended elementary school at the Emlen School at Chew and Upsal Streets. She joined the Grace Baptist Church of Germantown, at the early age of eight, under the pastorate of the late Jeremiah Wright, Sr. After some time she became aware of the fact that her mother’s grandfather was the founder and builder of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Germantown, she was led by the Holy Spirit to move her membership. The Rev. Morton Winston, her great grandfather pastored there for almost 40 years. Here is where she worshiped; went to Sunday School, sang on the choir; ushered; joined the girl scouts; vacation bible school; and vice-chaired the BUPU. Yolanda, better known as “Bubbles” attended high school at the distinguished Germantown High School in 1949 and attended Temple University’s Secretarial School in 1950. During her matriculating at Temple, she met and fell in love with Ernest W. Purnell, who was attending the Eckels College of Mortuary Science, located close to the Temple Campus at 16th & Spring Garden, in Center City Philadelphia. After Ernest’s two year tour of duty in the Europe during the Korean War, she became Mrs. Ernest V. Purnell on November 28, 1953. The two of them took up residence at 212 N. Lincoln Street, Wilmington, DE. On October 21, 1954, Yolanda gave birth to a 7lb. baby boy. She felt compelled to name him after his father, thus becoming a junior. Three years later she gave birth to another boy child, weighing in at 7.4lb, and she named him Mark Wade. She conceded to be a stay-at-home mother, and performed admirably rearing her family and being a virtuous wife. This included much volunteer work at the Lore elementary school; Bayard Junior High School Library where she printed the school paper and was a home-room mother. In June of 1955, she followed her Baptist denominations directive and joined the Eighth Street Baptist Church under the shepherding of Rev. J. Lenard Morgan. She picked up from where she left off at her home church in Germantown and sang on the Celestial Young Adults choir for 33 years. Other offices, such as Membership Secretary, Assistant Financial Secretary, were held in conjunction with active participation in Women’s Day Bazaars. Her Volunteer services were not just limited to the religious organization but secular groups also. She spent many years at the renowned Layton Home for Afro-American Disabled Seniors, escorting patients to and from doctor appointments. She supported her children’s social activities in scouting. For more than 10 years she was a Den Mother for Pack #19 at the Silverbrook Methodist Church, on Lancaster Ave., and helping with the WEBELOS as her boys continued to advance in Scouting. Having serviced under Rev’s Morgan and Mercer, she became a major servant under the leadership of Rev. Bullock, by taking over the leadership role of the Golden Age Senior Ministry, for more than 10 years. She eventually became the first woman ordained Deacon at the Eighth Street Baptist. In 1991, she became Circle Leader for the Laura T. Rutter Circle in the American Baptist Convention, and held that position for 10 years. God rewarded her service by permitting her to see her two sons graduate from major universities, acquiring some graduate work; get married; have children; rear them and see them complete their education, and serve admirably in the business world of their choice. Each of the five grandchildren has graduated from major universities in Alabama, Michigan, Utah and Wisconsin. She has been happily married for 66+ years to Ernest and they both joined the Canaan Baptist Church as it was being planted, March 16, 2003. They assumed Deacon roles and have actively pursued to use their spiritual gifts in teaching, leadership, and helps. Her favorite scripture is 1 Corinthians 13, “a Love Story”. Deacon Yolanda Modjeska Valentine Purnell, better known as “Bubbles”.