Black Los Angeles County Client Coalition, Inc.

Born in Macon, Georgia on March 29, 1930, to Charlie and Corene Basley Harkless, Lillian Harkless graduated from Macon’s Hudson High in 1948, the same year she married James Otis Mobley. Moving to California in 1951, her activism began when her children began school. Following the 1965 Watts Riots, Mrs. Mobley joined with Mary Henry, Caffie Green, Johnnie Taylor and Nola Carter to spearhead the fight to bring a hospital to South Los Angeles residents. The result was Martin Luther King Hospital, which opened in 1972. The group was also instrumental in the opening of the Charles R. Drew Postgraduate School, later to become Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, to provide health professional training opportunities for African‐ Americans.


In 1967 she became involved in the Neighborhood Adult Participation Project, an anti‐poverty program designed to provide training and employment opportunities for adults in poor neighborhoods. In 1980, Mrs. Mobley was elected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. A year later, she served as a delegate to the State Conference on Aging. Mrs. Mobley served on several boards of directors, councils and committees, including the Brotherhood Crusade, Congress of Racial Equality, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Watts Labor Community Action Committee and the Black Education and Black Health Task Forces. Mrs. Mobley is survived by her husband, James; three sons, Kenneth, Philip and Charles, 10 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and a host of other relatives.


Mrs. Mobley served as Founder of the Black Health Task Force for Los Angeles County. Mrs. Mobley could be found fighting for equality on every major policy issue impacting the underserved in South Los Angeles. Mrs. Mobley served on the Charles R. Drew University’s Board of Directors until 2005. In 2007 the Charles R. Drew University Board of Trustees bestowed her with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for Service and Achievement for 40 years of commitment to the University. Her commitment to social justice and health equity was unparalleled and her legacy is truly the inspiration for the “way forward” for many generations to come.

Received a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, June 2, 2007

  • Founder of Grandma’s Hands Los Angeles Birthing Project
  • Board Member of The Brotherhood Crusade
  • Board Member of Los Angeles Southern Christian Leadership Conference
  • Board member of Watts Labor Community Action Committee
  • Board Member of Tessie Cleveland Community Services Corporation
  • Board Member of Congress of Racial Equality
  • Board Member of Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
  • Board Member of Watts Learning Center
  • Chairperson of Watts Towers Community Action Council
  • Chairperson of Black Community Health Task Force
  • Co-founder of Mothers in Action
  • Chairperson of Black Women’s Forum Health Task Force
  • Chairperson of Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center, Community Advisory Council
  • Member of Los Angeles Southwest College Bond Construction Program