Wynona Marie Spears

Wynona Marie Spears—a mother, an advocate, steward, servant, fighter, ambassador and champion for the rights of others—lived a life of great vigor and zeal. She was granted her “Angel Wings,” on Sunday, September 22, 2019, at the age of 68.

Wynona lived her life helping people. She worked as a Nurse at Kaiser Permanente for over 40 years, dedicating her life to caring for others, while at the same time inspiring and influencing the lives of so many other people. Wynona had an uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and positive way.

Because Wynona had such a caring heart and love for people—and her patients in particular—doctors and nurses would come to Wynona seeking advice on how they could take better care of patients under their care. Wynona, being the forthright and outspoken person she was, would always give them clear and honest responses.

Wynona’s genuine and sincere commitment did not just rest with the patients in whom she cared for, but it reached out to the families of her patients. The families would come to Kaiser and request to speak only to Wynona because they knew she would give them honest, clear and simple answers.

Concerned not only about the well-being of her patients, Wynona was also an activist, steward and leader in her union—Service Employee International Union, United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW). Just as vigorously as she fought for her patients, she equally fought vigilantly for the rights of her co-workers and community residents.

To ensure that she and her co-workers received a fair contract, Wynona marched, protested, signed petitions and spoke at rallies to make sure her colleagues received a livable and decent wage. In fact, before Wynona passed, and despite her being retired from Kaiser, Wynona was arrested in Los Angeles, California, while being in a wheelchair, fighting to make sure her colleagues received a fair contract.

She was at the vanguard of the movement in the “Fight for 15” to ensure fast food workers received a decent and livable wage; and she sought to hold political leaders accountable to working people. Wynona was such a powerful voice for the people that she used her words to whip those in power when they did wrong, and then prayed for them while serving as a Chaplin in the AFRAM Caucus within SEIU-UHW. Wynona was a faithful and active member of The Way Center of Truth in Palmdale, California.

Wynona will always be remembered for standing up for social justice and fighting for the “least of these.” A true fabric of the community, Wynona served her time on this earth as an “Angel Among Us.” She is survived by her three children: Jermaine, Maxine, Jamaal, as well as eight grandchildren, with several brothers and sisters, and host of family and friends.