Obituaries

Kamilah O. Neighbors, age 33, passed away suddenly on Thursday, March 4, 2010. She was born on July 6, 1976 in Ann Arbor, the beloved, sweet spirited, generous daughter of Harold and Bonita Neighbors. Kamilah graduated from Pioneer High School in 1994. Kamilah sang as a soprano in multiple choirs and excelled at many vocal competitions. Kamilah received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Black Studies from Swarthmore College in 1998. Singing continued to bring her joy as she co-founded the A Capella group, Black Coffee, sang with a classic soul band, and with the Swarthmore Gospel Choir. She completed a Master’s degree in Health Services Administration at the University of Michigan in 2001. She moved to Chicago to accept a fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and later worked as a hospital administrator at Children’s Memorial Hospital. While at Children’s Memorial she created their Summer Internship Program. Also while living in Chicago she sang as a Soprano II with the Apollo Community Chorus. In 2005 she returned to Ann Arbor to work on a doctorate in Health Services Organization and Policy in the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. There she was founder of the Graduate Student Health Research Symposium and co-founder of the SPhD's (the Doctoral Students of SPH). She was a member of the Students of Color of Rackham and the Public Health Students of African Descent. Kamilah was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the University Musical Society Choral Union (Soprano I), the Luna Moon Cabaret (vocalist), and the Vocal Arts Ensemble. Kamilah is survived by her parents, Harold and Bonita Neighbors, her brother, Rashid, grandmothers, Bonnie Davis, Doris Jeanne Neighbors of Saline and many family and friends.