Chron.com

Community activist Bessie Swindle has died at the age of 79. Ever since she moved to the Sunnyside area, Swindle was making her community better through volunteerism. When she saw her community needed a library, she helped get it a library, police storefront and a Houston Community College campus. She pushed on political leaders like Congressman Al Green and former Precinct 7 Constable Michael Butler to pay attention to Sunnyside and address the needs that negatively affect residents. Her neighborhood park, Cloverland Park, got $1 million to renovation due to advocacy. In addition, she helped protect her neighbors’ health by preventing Southern Crushed Concrete plant to move in. Many community, city, and state leaders mourn her passing.