The Austin community and greater West Side have lost a bold activist and community advocate in Bertha Purnell, who died Jan. 18 at age 64 from cardiac arrest.
Purnell is survived by her daughter Theandelia and her sons, Marcus Purnell and Terry Lee.
Purnell was an Austin resident and went to school to be a nurse, but changed her career path after her youngest son, Maurice, 28, was killed in 2017 by gun violence. That same year, Purnell launched Mothers on a Mission 28, a West Side nonprofit that helps victims of violence get holistic support and services.
“She just wanted to bring support to families who have lost their loved one – not just mothers, but anyone who has lost a loved one due to gun violence,” Theandelia told Austin Weekly News. “She had a strong passion to help, to speak out, to make sure that we all were aware of things going on in our community.”
According to the Goldin Institute, Bertha was also a chapter coordinator for Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, a national organization of crime survivors working to shape public safety policy. And she was on the board of Nature120, an organization serving Chicago and Oak Park residents to heal their trauma by learning about health and wellness, and playing outside.
Bertha also was a member of the Ethics and Equity Advisory Committee for Axon, a company that designs training and technology for law enforcement that helps prioritize public safety.
“There are people who don’t just touch your life – they transform it. Bertha was one of those people,” said Axon CEO Rick Smith on LinkedIn. “She was a trusted advisor, a mentor and above all, a living embodiment of our mission: to protect life.”
Theandelia said she’s heard several stories from locals who have lost a loved one and felt comforted by Bertha, whether she visited their home on the anniversary of a death or sent a bouquet of flowers.
“She just wanted people to know that you weren’t alone,” Theandelia said.
Theandelia tells the story of someone who called her after Bertha’s death and said they’d spoken with Bertha two or three days before.
“She was so weak, but she held on just to have a conversation with someone who felt alone,” Theandelia said. “I just want people to know how powerful she was, even in her weakened state.”
“Even when she was sick, even when she was in pain, she wanted to make sure she fought for the people who couldn’t speak for themselves,” she added.
Theandelia said her mother’s attitude made her stronger herself.
“It made me feel like you could do anything, even when you’re hurt,” Theandelia said. “She didn’t want to let anyone down. She would do anything to help anybody.”
Darnell Shields, executive director at the nonprofit community organization Austin Coming Together, said he first met Bertha when she joined the public safety task force for Austin Forward Together, ACT’s quality-of-life plan to revive Austin.
Shields said Bertha came to ask him if the AFT plan would affect the north side of Austin, where she lived, in addition to the south side of the neighborhood, where ACT is based.
“I really appreciated Bertha’s forwardness and boldness to speak up about things that she felt needed to be discussed,” said Shields, who also sits on the board of Growing Community Media, the company that publishes Austin Weekly News. “I think it really helped her connect with people, maybe not in the most pleasant way at first, but ultimately you value connecting with her nonetheless because she spoke a lot of truth and she stood in truth.”
“As an activist, she was strong-willed,” Theandelia confirmed. “If she had an opinion, you were going to hear that opinion.”
“I used to think that she was quiet,” Theandelia added, “As a mother, she was a person who hid well behind the fact that she cried.”
In Austin and on the West Side, Bertha put on a brave face and threw herself into her work.
“She really was out there and, on all fronts, moving the work forward. I don’t know if I know of anybody else that’s been out there or really pushing it in the way that she was,” Shields said. “I hope people take a page from her book about being someone of character in good and bad situations.”
Shields added that he hopes those continuing Bertha’s work supporting survivors of gun violence will carry on with her vigor and heart.
“She had a lot of character, and I’m really blessed and privileged that I had a chance to get to know her,” Shields said. “She’s a powerful spirit and will be greatly missed in our community.”
“I think a lot of the communities will miss that powerful woman,” Theandelia said, “speaking love [and] life to families who feel lost, broken, letting them know that we got to fight together and we need to stand up for ourselves together.”
