Marie Doris Jean Finch

Marie Doris Jean (Horne) Finch, of Evansville, Indiana passed away peacefully at home on November 8, 2025, at the age of 89. She was born on August 12, 1936, to Grady and Emmaline (King) Horne. As a child, she attended St. John Catholic School and later Reitz Memorial High School. Marie was a lifelong member of St. John Catholic Church where she proudly served as a Eucharistic Minister until the church’s closing July 1, 2014. After the hurt of the churches’ closing subsided, she began faithfully attending Memorial Baptist Church in 2015; and remained there until her passing. Marie’s life was a testament to faith, kindness, and devotion to those she loved. Her generous spirit, warm heart, and unwavering strength touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. She will be remembered for her deep love of family, her compassion for others, and the joy she brought to all who crossed her path.

Marie worked for CAPE in various capacities for 40 years. She also worked for the EPD as a youth recreation coordinator; and she was a 4H leader. She loved bingo and played every chance she had. She taught ceramics at the Lincoln Senior Center and enjoyed playing clabber. Marie was a no-nonsense, tough love, disciplinarian too. Countless neighborhood kids remember getting a whipping from Ms. Finch! She had anecdotes, stories, and a great sense of humor. This article is, a mere snapshot of the extremely persistent, unwavering, self-sacrificing, caring woman Marie was.

Excerpt from Our Times Newspaper article written by: Sylvia B. Tapp Evangelist, MSW published 10/21/2021 Marie Finch: A Role Model for These Times Organizers who laid the foundation for freedom

Have you ever heard about a woman in Erie Homes who would yell, “Somebody get my butcher knife? Well, hundreds of Evansvillians, and many others have! Mrs. Marie Finch is known and respected by all of them! Why? If you are hungry, she would feed you, and she can sho’ nuff cook! Back in the day, if you needed somewhere to lay your head, her house was packed but she’d put you up! However, most people know her as the woman you can get help from.

Ms. Finch, Ms. Marie, Doris Jean, or Aunt Doris to her nieces and nephews, is known in the African American community as the person who knows everything and everybody; and if you need help, ask her! Ms. Finch worked as a Civil Rights activist who did not mind advocating for others. When children needed to be in school all day and parents couldn’t afford to buy them a school lunch, she went to Chicago and marched with the Black Panthers October 1970 for the Free Breakfast Program!

Ms. Finch worked for the Welfare Rights program in Evansville, and she lobbied in Indianapolis to make sure mothers and fathers were treated fairly. She also lobbied for food stamps to be raised from $35.00 to $50.00 per family…and guess what? She won! Ms. Finch led public housing to allow air conditioners in the brick/cinder block homes for the first time! Then when the Evansville Police Department started “walking the beat” in Erie Homes Public Housing, one of our young men was arrested unjustly. It was Ms. Finch who led a huge march from Erie Homes to the Vanderburgh County Jail, that was downtown then. She also picketed Sears & Roebuck for equal rights.

Ms. Finch worked with other city advocates for social justice, whom we thank and give praise as well. Groups and businesses she served with and for were: Civil Rights, Welfare Rights, Client Councils, CAPE, Pigeon Township, Trustee, Evansville Housing Authority, Helping Our People Excel (HOPE) of Evansville, Catholic Charities, St. John’s Catholic Church (Bellemeade Ave), Aurora, Habitat for Humanity, and Legal Services. In addition, there were the public housing client councils that worked individually and together:

Erie Homes Tenant Council

When you lived in public housing you learned about these women quickly. They would put fliers on your door sharing information, and when you needed help, they were there! If they didn’t know how to help you, they would find someone who could! These women were in contact with individuals from EHA’s main office to the White House in Washington, DC! Many of them would go to Conferences, in Indianapolis, and the Nation’s Capital yearly to make sure they knew the latest policies, and changes; and make sure our needs were met! They talked to Congressmen & Senators often! Many of the laws we have now are due to these women hitting the ground and burning up the phone lines. Ms. Finch was a precinct committeeman for years and took her voter registration and get out the vote campaigns seriously!

I could have written an entire book about Ms. Finch alone, from all the, “I remember when she…” comments I received! From the basketball court boys saying, “she made them turn the lights on for us, and told them “Don’t worry, I’ve got this; to the young moms she told, “Here gal give me that baby, and let me show you how to do it”! However, Ms. Finch’s latest desire is for others to grab one of these torches.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Grady and Emmaline Horne; daughter, Catrina Uvean Finch; sister, Leona Harris; brother, James Harrison Horne; and grandson, DaShambe Atkins.

Marie is survived by her loving children: daughters Savedra Finch, Leawanna Rankin, and Elexica (Johnny) McAlister; and her son Rolandan (Barbara) Finch I. She also leaves behind a cherished legacy through her grandchildren: Sherra, Anteeshia (Likenson), Savedra, Ryisi, Scotche, Rolandan II, Blair, Shelby (Vanessa), Nyjia, Jabez, Trinity, Jasanni, and Jahzara; 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends who will forever treasure her memory. However, Marie’s legacy of love, faith, and family will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew her.