Avonne Elizabeth Shavers Jones
Avonne was born January 7, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents are Judge William Daniel Shavers and Anna Louise North Shavers. She met her husband, the late Jim Jones who was the love of her life, in Detroit. Her religious affiliation was with the Messiah Lutheran Church in Beachwood, Ohio. She attended service regularly and enjoyed attending church because it kept her spirit high. Avonne was a Lifetime Member of A.K.A. Sorority Inc. and N.A.A.C.P.
She started her primary education in Chicago School system. At the age of 7, she moved to St. Louis. MO and attended High School there after her father passed the state bar exam for Missouri. Avonne did her undergraduate studies at Wilberforce University and received her B.S. degree in Social Administration. She received her Master's Degree from Cleveland State University.
She was hired at Homer G. Phillips Hospital as a social worker in St. Louis. MO until she decided she would like to teach the exceptional children that had been housed in the pediatric ward at the hospital. Avonne worked diligently with exceptional children in the area of Psychology to help them. When she moved to Detroit. MI she was refused admission into graduate school due to racial issues at that time. She did her practice teaching in Detroit which was an exciting time because it was the beginning of Motown, with the Supremes, the Temptations and Smokey Robinson. The Gotham Hotel in Detroit was a place that all the entertainers came and stayed in the '50s and '60s due to segregation. One afternoon while she and a friend were having dinner at the Gotham Hotel and it was very crowded, a waiter asked if they would join a gentleman at his table. The gentleman turned out to be then Attorney Thurgood Marshall. who later became the first African American Supreme Court Justice. When Avonne moved to Cleveland. Ohio, she was immediately hired as a teacher at Central Jr. High School and later became assistant principal. The first black mayor of a major city Carl B. Stokes graduated from Central High School. She remained as an administrator in Cleveland School System until she was diagnosed as legally blind with severe glaucoma and had to retire. She reduced her workload and joined the Cleveland Sight Center as a volunteer.
Avonne enjoyed traveling and has traveled to many countries in her 93 years. Avonne was in Hong Kong when President Richard Nixon was impeached and in Aruba when 9-11 happened. She said everything in her life has been wonderful and recommends to young people, "do as much as you can while you can." Avonne announced that she and her sister Doris Parker will be forming a Law School Scholarship in memory of their father Judge William Shavers. It will be called the WADE Law Scholarship (William. Anna. Doris. Elizabeth). The requirements and final details will be announced at the next family reunion.
Avonne passed July 17, 2019.
"God bless everyone and I Love all of you".
Much love,
Avonne