Hathaway, Quinella Berniece Watson
(born: 1899 - died: 2000)Quinella B. Watson Hathaway was born in Kentucky, the daughter of Thomas and Abbie P. Watson. When Quinella was one-year old, the family lived in Owensboro, KY, according to the 1900 U.S. Census. It is assumed she was born in Owensboro because her parents are first listed on p. 208 of the Owensboro City Directory for 1899-1900.
Quinella's family moved to Indiana, Chicago, and in 1907, Maywood, IL. Thomas Watson was a teacher and moved the family to where he found work. He was a widower by 1910, working as a mailman in Chicago. He later married Helen J. Watson [sources: 1910 and 1930 U.S. Census].
Quinella Watson was the only African American student in both her elementary and high school graduating classes; the Watson family was among the first African American families to live in Maywood. She was also one of the first African American students at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Quinella's husband, Walter Hathaway, was the first trustee in Maywood. Quinella was the grandmother of Glenn "Doc" Rivers, former NBA basketball player and coach of the 2008 NBA champion Boston Celtics.
For more see L. Roche, "Living legend hits 100," Maywood Herald, 6/16/1999, Local News section, p. 8; and the "Ruth L. Sampson" obituary in the Maywood Herald, 3/23/2005, news section, p. 69.