Annetta L. Jefferson

Annetta Louise Gomez-Jefferson, born in Detroit, Michigan, December 5, 1927 to Hazel Thompson Gomez and Reverend Joseph Gomez, Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, died at her home in Wooster on December 16, 2009. She received most of her formal education in the Cleveland Ohio Public School System, at Wilberforce University and then Erwin Piscator's Dramatic Workshop (1948-50) in New York City. She earned her B. A. in English (Magna Cum Laude-1957) from Paul Quinn College in Waco, Texas, her M.A. in English (1959) from Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve) in Cleveland, Ohio, with further graduate work at Western Reserve, John Carroll in Cleveland, and Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. From 1959-66, she taught in the Cleveland Secondary Public Schools, the upward Bound Summer Program at Western Reserve University, the College Summer Program for High School Seniors at Western Reserve University and at Case School Of Technology. She was a Master Teacher in the MAT Program at John Carroll University, and served as a writer for the Educational Research Council of America in Cleveland. From 1967-74 she was Writer/Producer for WVIZ Educational Television Station in Cleveland. Her series' included: Blackpeoplehood (Ford Foundation grant), Brother Man (Ford Foundation Grant), Black Journal: Cleveland Response, which she also hosted, The History of Black Americans and Reflections in Black (history and literature series for high schools funded by Martha Holden Jennings Foundation), Behavior Modification and Individualization of Instruction (for public School teachers), four shows for Inside/Out, an Award winning National Instructional T.V. Series for which she received an Emmy Citation, and Four Christmas Specials highlighting African American artistic talent in Cleveland. From 1974 to her retirement in 1995, Professor Gomez-Jefferson was a member of the faculty at the College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, where in 1982, she was asked to develop and chair a Theatre Department. During her years at the College Of Wooster, she directed 42 plays, 5 Black Arts Festivals and as well as the original plays: In Both Hands, My Soul Looks Back In Wonder, Drown The Wind (musical, music by Brian Dykstra), Amandla, and The Fish Monger. She founded and directed the Stage Right Repertory Company (summers 1982-86). Her other professional experiences include Guest Director: at The Humanist Theatre, Karamu House, Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio; Wooster High School (Black Arts Festival) Wooster, Ohio; and at Paul Quinn College, Waco, Texas. Annetta served as Director of the Speakers' Bureau for the Cleveland Branch of the NAACP during the 60's, Awards Banquet Speaker for the Indianapolis Chapter of the NAACP, did poetry readings at Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland State University, Kent State University, and Oberlin College, and served as Guest Lecturer for one semester (1972) at Oberlin College where she taught "Writing For Television". She has been a Guest Speaker at numerous A.M.E. Churches throughout the country, at Cleveland State University, Kent State University, and Wilberforce University and during her Sabbatical from Wooster at several Polytechnic Colleges in London, England. Professor Jefferson's publications include: Four biographical sketches for Black Women In America, I&II, second edition, Brooklyn: Carlson Press, Darlene Clark Hines, Ed., 1993, 2005; editor, Through Love To Light: The Sermons, Addresses and Prayers of Bishop Joseph Gomez, Nashville: A.M.E. Sunday School Union, 1997; In Darkness With God: The Life Of Joseph Gomez, a Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press,1998; "An Odyssey In Black Leadership, Joseph Gomez, a Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church", Narratives Of Leadership, Wauconda, Ill.: Bolchazy-Carducci, Inc., Vivian Holliday, ed.,2000; The sage Of Tawawa: Reverdy Cassius Ransom,1861-1959, Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 2003; Poetry in the A.M.E. Review,The Black Scholar, Free Lance Magazine, and Thistle; and articles in the A.M.E. Church Review with recent writings including (Commissions On Publications, Nashville, Tenn.):"Abu Gharib" (Poem) April-June 2004; "The Unrighteous Religious Right and African Methodism" (article) October-December 2004; "America's Underside Disgorged: A Commentary on Hurricane Katrina" (article) July-September 2005; and "Rosa" (Poetic tribute to Rosa Parks) October-December 2005. At the time of her death, Annetta was working on a book of poetry, Cinnamon Secrets and her autobiography, Born Alive. Professor Gomez-Jefferson's Honors Include in 1974 appointment by Governor John J. Gilligan to the Ohio Educational Television Network Commission and in 1986 and 1990 she was awarded a Luce Grant for Distinguished Scholars; in 2000 she received the Ohioana Citation for Distinguished Service in the Field of Theatre and in 2008, The Ohioana Pegasus Award for Distinguished Service in the Arts. She is survived by sons Curtis Gomes of New York City and Joseph Jefferson of Wooster; four grandchildren, Bruno, Marco Valerio, and Ariel and great-grandchildren; her sister Eula Viviana Williams and brother-in-law, Harold B. Williams of Woodland Park, Michigan. Funeral services will be Tuesday, December 22, 1:30 p.m. at Freedlander Theater at The College of Wooster, 329 E. University St., with the Reverend Carole LeBlanc, Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church officiating, followed by interment at Wooster Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, December 21, from 6-8 p.m. at Custer-Glenn Funeral Home, 2284 Benden Dr., in Wooster. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to: Hospice and Palliative Care of Greater Wayne County (2525 Back Orrville RD, Wooster OH, 44691) and Save the Children ID323 411 (c/o/Joseph Jefferson, 2631 Tanglewood Dr., Wooster OH, 44691}. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at: www.custerglenn.com. Samuel A. Glenn Owner/Director Custer-Glenn Funeral Home 330-264-7776 as revised by v.holliday Close message escape Accessible VersionStandard VersionTerms of ServicePrivacy PolicyTrademarksContext Sensitive Shortcuts © 2009 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved

Annetta L. Jefferson

December 5, 1927 - December 16, 2009