James C. Purnell

James C. PURNELL A pioneer of the Seattle African-American community, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on March 24, 2005 at age 84. He was deeply loved by them all and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Mardine Purnell, his two daughters, Carolyn Jean Purnell and Mardine Michelle Purnell-Hepburn and their husbands, Wes Uhlman and Michael Hepburn. He is also survived by his two granddaughters, Mardine and Monica Garbutt, cousin Dorthea Hilmar and best friend, Willie Dunn. Jim was born on February 24, 1921 in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of Jessie Coleman Lackey and Clarence James Purnell. He was married to Mardine Purnell for 67 years, from 1938 until his death. Jim was a Navy Construction Engineer from 1946-1967. He graduated from Credit Union Management School in 1970 and from Banker Management School in 1972. He was president of Liberty Bank, the first Seattle minority owned bank, which he was instrumental in founding, from 1972-1986. In 1947, he joined the Prince Hall Masonic Order and was a member of Harmony Lodge. In the 1960's he became a 33rd Degree Mason. A Seattle Times article of February 21, 1971 about Mr. Purnell's career states: "James Purnell was one of 10 original incorporators of the Liberty Bank, which opened in May, 1968, and one of the nine incorporators of the Sentinel Credit Union, which he managed for 12 years. Sentinel Credit Union was founded by Washington State members of Prince Hall Lodges, a Masonic Order for African- Americans. They first began planning and saving for a black-owned financial institution in 1952. From founding the Sentinel Credit Union in 1958, they went on to establish the Liberty Bank in 1968. In the 1970's he joined and later became president of the National Bankers Association, an association of minority owned banks, and had the distinct privilege to meet with then President Jimmy Carter regarding Mr. Carter's support of government agencies depositing funds into minority-owned banks whenever "good cash management" policies allow it. Beyond getting people off welfare rolls and accumulating capital in the black community, Mr. Purnell was concerned about finances and the pivotal way finances influence family and personal relationships." To be nearer to his father in Seattle, Jim and his wife Mardine relocated first to Chicago and later settled permanently in Seattle, where he lived from 1941 until his death on Thursday. They were followed to Seattle shortly after their arrival by his wife's parents, Ida and Eugene Taylor. James and his wife Mardine were a part of the African-American migration out of the south to the northern states. A gregarious and active man, his favorite quote was, "No one loves all my girls more than I do." He was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather. Plagued by health problems in his later years, his family knows he is at rest and at peace in the hereafter. We all know we will meet him again someday. The core of his existence was his family, and service to the community. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be sent to Prince Hall Grand Lodge, 306 24th Avenue South, Seattle, Washington 98122. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, March 28, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at Bleitz Funeral Home in Seattle, WA.