Chris Poorman, affectionately known as "Mama Chris" and "Miss Chris," 58, of Middletown, passed away Monday, July 2, 2007. She was born in Harrisburg on December 8, 1948, to the late Lee Roy and Mary Alice Bomgardner Poorman. Chris was a well-known advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS. She served in numerous volunteer capacities that empowered people living with HIV. In 2004, as an advocate for transgender people dealing with HIV, she was interviewed by POZ magazine and several other national publications for a story series called "Positive Voices". In an interview Chris said, "I'm going to keep fighting this disease and be a voice for those who won't talk." She was a former intake clerk for the juvenile discipline centers of the Youth Advocate Program in Harrisburg and Crime Prevention Associates in Philadelphia; former prep cook for the Dauphin County Agency on Aging, Meals on Wheels program. Chris was a 1967 graduate of Hershey High School, and a graduate of HACC. She served on the Board of Directors of the AIDS Community Alliance of South Central PA; was a member of its Speakers Bureau addressing local high school health classes; member of the AIDS Planning Coalition of South Central PA and the Consumer Advisory Council for Pinnacle Health REACHH Program, where she was instrumental in helping to develop the Mentor Program for newly-diagnosed patients. Chris was the Consumer Advisor to the Board of Directors of the PA Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program of the Department of Welfare, and the PA/Mid-Atlantic AIDS Education Training Program at the University of Pittsburgh. For 5 years Chris served as Chair of the annual South Central PA AIDS Walk, and also served on the World AIDS Day and International Candlelight Vigil Planning Committees. She volunteered and attended the monthly "Sharing Our Caring" meetings held at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Harrisburg. She is survived by a brother, Calvin L. Poorman and his life partner, Terry A. Hoffman of Steelton; several foster children, aunts, uncles and cousins. Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday, July 13, at 6:30 p.m., in the Metropolitan Community Church of the Spirit, 2973 Jefferson Street, Harrisburg. A private inurnment will be in Gravel Hill Cemetery, Palmyra. A reception will follow the service Friday, in the church. Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, is handling the arrangements. Chris devoted her life to educating people on HIV and AIDS and the importance of being tested. It was her wish that in lieu of flowers people wear AIDS ribbons, get tested, and encourage their loved ones to be tested for HIV. Memorial contributions to "Sharing Our Caring", c/o Fulton Bank, 1212 Cocoa Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033. (Harrisburg Patriot News - 7/8/2007)