In remembrance of Edna Aliewine, founder of the Watts/Willowbrook Christmas Parade and co-creator of the Watts walk of fame, officials at Ted Watkins Park in Watts, have named one of their community rooms after her, and the recognition event is scheduled to take place Saturday at 11 a.m. as part of the grand re-opening of the venue.
The park is located at 1335 E. 103rd St., Los Angeles.
Aliewine, a long-time community activist died at her home July 5 of lymphoma. Funeral services were held at Praises of Zion Baptist Church in Los Angeles. She was 90.
Highly known and appreciated for her commitment and dedication to her community, Aliewine, who served as a pillar, mother, and leader for more than 40 years, followed her motto for Watts: don’t move, improve.
Growing up in South Los Angeles, Aliewine had the drive to improve the appearance of her city in a way which others didn’t find possible. After watching the Hollywood Christmas parade with her father as a child, Aliewine questioned why there weren’t any African Americans featured in the parade. As a result, years later she took matters into her own hands and began forming a parade.
In 1964, Aliewine recruited volunteers, residents, and local community schools to come together to help establish a parade for the community.
The Watts Christmas parade featured youth from the neighborhood forming a drill team, and marching from El Segundo Boulevard and Central Avenue to 103rd Street then down to Grandee Street wearing custom-made Santa hats. Buoyed by the success of the first effort, she turned it into an annual event, and it has continued for 46 years.
In another effort to recognize the talent in Watts, Aliewine collaborated with Dr. James Mays, a cardiologist from South L.A., to create a shrine for community heroes, naming it the Promenade of Prominence in 1988. Inspired by the Hollywood Walk of fame, the Watts walk of fame was installed along the edge of Ted Watkins Memorial Park.
The project pays tribute to a diverse group of notable citizens of the community along with celebrities who have contributed to enhancing the community and the lives of South LA. residents.
Always searching for areas of improvement, Aliewine was an original member of the Watts Community Beautiful Corporation; she also organized and showcased the Miss Community Beautiful Pageant. This program created an opportunity to showcase African American girls in an elegant and sophisticated manner, and promoted learning by awarding winners of the pageant scholarships toward their education.
Aliewine was born Jan. 1, 1921 and graduated from Jefferson High School. She later attended Los Angeles City College and Cal State L.A.
Working as a real estate agent and later a private nurse, Aliewine made time to reconstruct her community. She was a member of a small circle of Watts mothers who pushed local officials to build parks, medical facilities and a shopping center in Watts.
Aliewine is survived by daughters Paula Aliewine, Marsha Feaster of Las Vegas and Wilnora Ewell of Temecula; eight grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and one great- great- grandchild.
The Aliewine family members intend to continue her legacy and work by producing the Watts Christmas parade every year.
