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Letter to the editor

Schools

Fighter for equality dies

By DONNA WINCHESTER, Times Staff Writer
Published December 2, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG

Even at the end, Adelle Vaughn-Jemison was a fighter.

Two months before a stroke put her in the hospital, her heart had already started to give out. Yet she insisted on attending a meeting where community activists would be brainstorming ways to close the achievement gap between black and white students.

Her daughter, Daphne Cooper, who over the past year had become her caregiver, helped her dress.

Cooper settled her in the car and drove her to the meeting, where she sat listening intently, the way she'd listened for almost 40 years whenever people gathered to discuss children and education.

"She was always very strong," said Cooper, 45. "She held on until she just couldn't hold on anymore."

Vaughn-Jemison died on Nov. 19, three days before Thanksgiving, at the age of 77. This past week, she was remembered by hundreds of friends, family members, educators and community activists.

Cooper, who knew her best, remembered her as stern, but not too stern; authoritative, but loving; encouraging, yet a strong advocate for education.

"That was always her main concern," Cooper said, "even when I was small."

Growing up, Cooper learned from her mother to solve small problems before they became big problems.

She learned to stay positive, even when challenges loomed. And she learned something else:

Pray. Trust God. Let him fight your battles.

"She was a Christian woman," Cooper said. "She never asked anybody for anything. She always believed God brought things to her."

Vaughn-Jemison saw three great-grandchildren born into her family in the last year of her life. As her strength began to wane, she urged Cooper to be strong, to hold the family together.

She also wanted to make sure the babies get the best education possible as they're growing up.

"It's a big responsibility," Cooper said, "but I know she'll be watching over me. If I do wrong, she'll find some way to let me know.

"She's gone, but I still feel her presence. It's all around."

ADELLE VAUGHN-JEMISON

Born: Aug. 17, 1930, in Ocala

Died: Nov. 19 in St. Petersburg

Parents: Adolphus Vaughn and Rachel Baldwin-Vaughn

Daughter: Daphne Cooper

Grandchildren: Shyron, 27; Shannon, 20; Sean, 19; Shanique, 18; and Samara, 16

Education: Bachelor's degree in psychology from Talladega College, Tuscaloosa, Ala.; master's degree in social work from Florida State University

TIMELINE

1960s Went to work as a child welfare worker for St. Petersburg

1966 Became a social worker for the Pinellas County School District

1968 Helped start the Chamber's Community Alliance organization, a diverse group charged with bridging the gap between St. Petersburg's white and black residents

1978 Became the school district's assistant superintendent for the office of equal opportunity

1979 Became a member of the St. Petersburg Police Department's Community Police Council

1991 Retired from the Pinellas school district

1993 Became a charter member of Pinellas Alliance of Black School Educators

1998 Ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Pinellas County School Board

2002 Was a founding member of Concerned Organizations for Quality Education for Black Students

2003 Received the Liberty Bell Award for community service

2004 Honored as one of 30 "Trailblazers in Education" from Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Bradenton

2007 Received the Perkins T. Shelton Humanitarian Award

[Last modified December 1, 2007, 21:36:07]