By Chelsea Zhao
Staff Writer
Goedert Center at Priory Campus on Oct. 9th remembers the legacy of Never Mosby lost to gun violence in Chicago.
Never Mosby, the 52-year-old assistant teacher at the Goedert Center for Early Childhood Education, joined the community on May 17 of this year. She received her bachelor’s degree in social work at Northeastern Illinois University. Both of Mosby’s grandsons went to Dominican University, and she was an illuminating presence on campus from the start.
Sarah Thomas, director of Goedert Center, said Mosby was eager to get involved in her work. Mosby’s passion for education accumulates in 163 trainings for her certificate of Child Development Associate. Her lighthearted attitude also connects her deeply with the families.
“She had a very unusual name: Never,” Thomas said. “And she used to explain to the families that to remember her name is to say, ‘never ever ever ever ever’.”
Yaquala Gant, the head teacher Mosby works under, said Mosby was a hard worker with a strong curiosity to learn and an enthusiasm for teaching the kids.
“She’d make up songs using the children’s names and sang to each child upon their arrival,” Gant said. “She had a way of making each one of them feel so very special.”
Thomas recalls Mosby as “spiritual” and “dedicated to learn early childhood development.” In the months she worked at the Center, Thomas heard wonderful reviews from the parents.
“She prayed about everything that was going on,” Thomas said. If there was something complex that she was dealing with, she would say, ‘I’m gonna pray on it.’”
On Sunday, Sept. 26, Mosby drove down North Long Street in North Austin, Chicago. She intended to pick up her mother for church at noon when she was struck in the back during a gang violence crossfire. She crashed into a house and was pronounced dead in West Suburban Medical Center. Her passing sent a shock of sorrow among the Goedert Center staff.
“[Mosby’s family] called that Monday morning to tell me that Never wasn’t coming in,” Thomas said. “And we cried on the phone. Never’s daughter came in to drop off the funeral arrangements and I said I’d like to do something special for you, to commemorate your mom.”
The collective grief of the community brought them together on Oct. 9 in front of the Goedert Center. Bright purple ribbons – Mosby’s favorite color—leads the way from the Priory entrance to the Center’s front entrance.
Even though the casket arrived at Main Campus by mistake, Mosby’s grandsons, son and daughter drove by. Her former students and their parents gave the family flowers to commemorate Never Mosby, who will now live forever in their hearts.
