Michael Samuel Hinson, Jr.

Dr. Michael S. Hinson, Jr., a leading Black activist for the disenfranchised in Philadelphia,
born December 20,1966 died peacefully on August 27, 2022, at Penn Rittenhouse.
Hinson grew up in Hemingway, SC and Wilmington, DE where he received his High School
Diploma from John Dickinson High School and moved to Philadelphia shortly thereafter. He
emerged on the scene as a fierce 19-year-old who was already a strong voice for Black
communities. He also served as an adjunct professor at Cheyney University, where he had
obtained a Master's in Public Administration. He obtained his doctorate from Temple
University.
He was also a member of the Yoruba community, becoming a Yoruba priest in the early
1990s.
In 2000, Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street appointed Michael as his liaison to the city
communities and as a policy advisor on issues ranging from child welfare to education to
homelessness to public safety. During that time, Hinson helped develop a comprehensive
plan to combat homelessness in Philadelphia and helped build a coalition to ensure that
gender identity was added to the protections of the city's Fair Practices Ordinance.
Michael was also a passionate advocate for people experiencing homelessness. In recent
years he served as the President and CEO of SELF, Inc., the city's largest provider of
emergency and transitional housing, which doubled in size under his leadership and included
development of A Way Home, a rental assistance program.
Family was very important to Michael. As the oldest brother, he took pride in caring for his
family, especially his nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father, Michael Hinson, grandparents Albert and Jannie
Brown and Benjamin and Frances Maddix.
Left to cherish his memories: Parents Ned and Vera Waterman 4 sisters Patricia Waterman
of Lake City SC, Norma Priest of Hemingway SC Brenda Thompson of Wilmington DE
Salathia Waterman of Charlotte NC 2 brothers Kevin Waterman(Annette Waterman) of
Rochester NY Tyson Waterman (LeTonya Waterman)of Wichita KS 1 very special niece
Neddicka Sanders (Elijah Sanders) of Atlanta GA 2 Godsons Vincent Woolfolk of Philadelphia
PA Semaj Dollard Columbia SC. 1 Goddaughter Sahi Barnes of Philadelphia PA 5 Aunts Lula
Waterman (Willie Waterman) Jane Williams (Earl Williams) Annie Benson (Rev. Clyde
Benson) Margaret Ann Hinson Lillian Maddix-Owens (Lou Owens) all of Wilmington
Delaware Rebecca Williams Essie Waterman Gladys Hughes all of Hemingway SC 3 Uncles
Willie Brown of Wilmington Delaware and Anthony Maddix of Charlotte NC Jake Waterman of
Hemingway SC 3 God Brothers Brunden "Shay" Brown (Tanya Brown) Damen Brown of
Wilmington Delaware Tervon Washington of Hemingway SC 2 God sisters Angela
Washington of Miami Florida Kiandre Tisdale (Courtney Tisdale) of Anderson SC. and a host
of nieces, nephews cousins and friends.