DEBORAH L. STEELE

Deborah L. Steele, passed away Aug. 12, 2012. She was born on July 8th, the second of three children, to Hershell and Dorothy Redditt, in Chicago, IL. Deborah was preceded in death by her brother, Hershell Jr.; her parents; her granddaughter, Sydni Banks; and her son, Jason. Deborah married Sanders Steele on Nov. 23rd; to this union, three children were born. She graduated from Gillespie Elementary School and Marshall High School and received her Bachelor's in Elementary Education and Special Education as well as a Master's in Education from Chicago State University. For a brief time, she worked for the Office of Public Aid. She was also employed by Chicago Public Schools and spent her entire 35-year CPS career at Walter Q. Gresham Elementary where she educated and inspired all of the students that crossed her path. While at Gresham, she served as a special education teacher, departmental math teacher, assistant principal, special education case manager and curriculum coordinator. Upon her retirement in 2006, the Gresham Library was renamed the Deborah L. Steele Multimedia Center. She also served as Vice-President for the south-side community center, New Foundation of Hope (NFoH). Deborah leaves to cherish her memory two daughters, Tamara Steele and Andrea (Joseph Sr.) Banks; a grandson, Joseph Jr.; a sister, Sharon (Clement Sr.) Townsend; five nieces; three nephews; two aunts, Dorritt Williams and Claudette Miller; a special sister-in-law, Margaret Redditt; and a host of cousins, sisters-in-Christ, students and other relatives. Service will be held Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, at St. Stephen AME Church, 3042 W. Washington, Chicago, IL. Repast at 9 a.m. Wake: 10 a.m. and Funeral at 11 a.m.