I Pay my tribute of affection and respect to our dear friend, Monica McClinton Palmer
I reach out with caring and sympathy to her family. Only such a short time ago, Monica enriched our lives by her presence. Her passing leaves us saddened. But our spirit is uplifted because of our many memories of a life well-lived, a purpose driven life. Each of us brings our own collection of special unique memories of Monica But to all she was blessed with a seemingly endless supply of caring and kindness.
The students and parents who passed thru Monica’s classroom door were truly blessed.
Paraphrasing Taylor Mali’s poem “What Teachers Make,” Monica could make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. She could make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor. She could make a student want to do his or her very best.”
Monica was kind and sharing to her colleagues regardless of how long she had known them. She was a “teachers, teacher.”
When each of us pauses to take a long, hard look at what we have done with our lives, and what we have accomplished in the years allotted to us so far, we hopefully realize that it is not through monumental acts that we have a real impact upon others, but by our “measure “as members of the world universal.
In the poem “The Measure Of A Woman” A woman’s measure is
Not how did she die, but how did she live, Not what she gained, but what did she give, Not what was her station, but had she a heart, And how did she play her God-given part. Was she ever ready with a word of good cheer to bring back a smile, to banish a tear. Not what was her church, not what was her creed, But had she befriended those really in need? Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say, But how many were sorry when she passed away. These are the things to measure the worth of a woman. We thank you, O God, for all of the blessings that you have bestowed upon Monica McClinton Palmer. May her memory be for us an eternal blessing.

Sincerely, Celeste and Elijah Edwards December, 2014

It is quite easy to speak about Monica as though she was present: “Hey there Ms. Palmer, (children arriving for class one morning) I see you’ve got all of your sweet babies walking with you. Is that one of the cute kinds hand you’re holding? Awww is he having a bad morning, little boy smiles “he’ll be ok, chimes Monica with that beautiful smile. I’m going your way to check on a few students on the second floor…look at how nice the line is today! You know I remember back when we first met upon your arrival to Price School. Remember how we talked about sharing the same last name “McClinton”! McClinton was both our names by marriage. I thought it was so interesting when we talked at length one day your previous life, in another city, a while back, did you say New York? Guess what, last summer 2013 I took two of my grandsons (visitn from Texas) to the newly rennovated lakefront park at 31st Street. It was such a beautiful day, as and we walked along I heard a voice say, hi there…guess who it was, Adonia Milsap! It was so good to see her. She was power walking with that same beautiful smile. I asked her how you were doing and she said, good. I then told her I will try to drop by the school to say hi to her soon. We departed, Adonia continued her walk, and I walked along with my two grandsons. It is always good to see former Price family doing well.

Guess what else is wonderful, I retired from CPS several years ago. Let me tell you, when your turn comes around, you will wonder what took so long. It has been good reminiscing about the good old days. How’s your brother…(he loved working with computers at Price (he was always ready, willing and a joy to have at Price too. My girls, now young ladies Monesha and Monica I am sure have blossomed into bright shining stars.

Sharing a few of the precious moments we spent together at Price means so much to me.

Love, respect and I’ll see you on the other side!

Gwen

My sincere condolences to the McClinton family. Monica was a friend and a coworker in Rhode Island. I would love to communicate with family members, my email is: Sheila.conway88@gmail.com