Ivies Beyond the Wall
IVIES BEYOND THE WALL
Abney : Life Member
Aiken , SC – Soror Shirley Ann Abney became an Ivy Beyond the Wall on March 30 , 2021 . She attended Cheney State University in Chester , PA ., where she was recognized in the 1973 edition of Who ' s Who in American Universities and Colleges . She was employed for 30 years with the Aiken County Department of Social Services . She was a life member of the Aiken County NAACP and served as Aiken County NAACP 1st vice president for nine years , 2nd vice president for four years , and chairman of the Freedom Fund Banquet for 18 years . She volunteered for the Aiken County voter registration office , served as poll manager , and later as a precinct clerk . Soror Abney was a Life Member of Kappa Upsilon Omega Chapter , serving as president for two terms , vice president for two terms , and chairman of the health committee . Soror Abney leaves to cherish her memory , her brothers Samuel O . Abney ( Rosita ) and COL . ( R ) J . C . Abney ( Ava ); and her niece Camryn M . Abney .
Anderson : Pearl Soror / Life Member
Washington , DC – Soror Ethel Anderson became an Ivy Beyond the Wall on February 7 , 2021 . She received a BS degree from Bluefield State College in West Virginia , where she was initiated into Beta Xi Chapter . A native of Culpeper , VA , she relocated to Washington , DC with her husband , William , who preceded her in death . She was an active member of Salem Baptist Church , where she was involved in the Sunday School program and served as a deaconess . In addition , she was involved in many other organizations , including the Omega Wives , Girl Scouts , the Lamond Senior Citizen Group of Ward 4 , the NAACP , and the Bluefield State Alumni Association . Her career in education included 29 years in the D . C . Public School System before retiring in 1992 . Soror Anderson was an active member of the Iota Gamma Omega Chapter and was celebrated in the first group of Pearl Sorors in 2020 . She is survived by three daughters , Sorors Karen Ivy Hylton , June Bryant , and Cynthia Anderson ; five grandchildren , one great-grandchild , and a host of other family , friends , and sorors .
Bailey : Elementary School Educator
Winston-Salem , NC – Soror Ida Delois Richardson Bailey became an Ivy Beyond the Wall on March 14 , 2021 . She enrolled at Winston-Salem Teachers College and earned a BS degree in elementary education . She began teaching in Wilson , North Carolina . She married her high school sweetheart , Ray Bailey , in 1961 . They had five children and celebrated 53 years of marriage before her husband ’ s death in 2014 . She earned a master ' s degree in elementary education from Hofstra University . She lived and taught school in Amityville , New York , for 34 years before retirement . She was a member of the Deaconess Board and the Sarah Missionary Group . She was a member of Phi Omega Chapter , Kernersville Chapter of National Women of Achievement , Just Us Neighbors Community Club , and Today ' s Book Club . Her children and other family members survive soror Bailey .
Beck : Retired Educator
Tulsa , OK – Soror Betty Jean Beck became an Ivy Beyond the Wall on January 4 , 2021 . She attended Northeastern State College , where she obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in elementary education in 1969 and a Master of Science in reading in 1973 . She met Edward Beck , and they were married on September 16 , 1967 . In the spring of 1969 , she was hired by the Tulsa Public Schools system to teach at the elementary school . She was trained to implement the Marva Collins teaching techniques . After 30 years of teaching , Soror Beck took early retirement to fulfill her and her husband ' s lifelong dream of opening the ABC Learning Academy . For 21 years , she touched the lives of children from Pre-K through 5th grade . She was a member of Alpha Upsilon Omega Chapter . In addition , she served as chairman of the sisterly relations committee for several years . Soror Beck was preceded in death by her husband , Edward , and her parents . She leaves to cherish her memory two daughters , Rebecca ( Darryl ) Williams and Soror Suzette ( Tarrel ) Ramsey , and a host of other relatives , friends , and former students .
Bender : Judge
Thomasville , GA – Soror Vernita Laverne Lee Bender became an Ivy Beyond the Wall on December 7 , 2020 . She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Juris Doctor degree . Soror Bender was initiated into Lambda Xi Omega Chapter . She owned a law practice and later became a Valdosta Municipal Court Judge , serving in this position for more than a decade . As a result of establishing a mock trial program for students in her community , she received a Special Recognition Award for her work on the mock trial system . In addition , the Judicial Council of Georgia featured soror Bender as one of the state ' s most influential black judges in 2016 . As an active member in the community , she also served on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club and was a board member of Easterseals Southern Georgia . In addition , she enjoyed reading and traveling . Cherishing her memory are husband , Tonero Bender ; sons Ethan Bender and Aidan Bender ; father , Horace Lee , Jr ; siblings , other relatives , and friends .
Black : Corrections Department Service / Silver Soror
Nashville , TN – Soror Vickie L . Black , who became an Ivy Beyond the Wall on September 5 , 2020 , was a member of Upsilon Psi Omega Chapter in Nashville , TN . She earned a BA degree in criminal justice from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga , where she was initiated into Zeta Kappa Chapter in 1985 . She began her career in 1986 with Davidson County Sheriff ' s Department as a correctional officer , working in several capacities within the human resources and communications divisions before retiring from the department with 34 years of dedicated service . Left to cherish her memory are her husband , William Don Black ; children Ashley , Jamika , and Montrel Black ; grandchildren , siblings , and a host of loving family and friends .
Celebrating 100 Years of Ivy Leaf ® Magazine
Summer 2021 I vyL eaf ® 113