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A p ril 14, 2010
Longtime Funeral Operator Dies
A funeral forCleodis Don Vann, Nellie Vann. He lived in Pontiac,
a member o f a longtime Portland Mich, with his Aunt Nola fora few
family of funeral operators, will be years after the death o f his mother.
heldon Thursday, April 15 at 10a.m. He and his father moved to Lansing,
at Mt. Olivet BaptistChureh. Public Mich, when Cleodis was 5 years old.
viewing will be held at the church His dad’s family helped to care for
from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. prior to the him while his father was recuperat­
service.
ing from a long illness.
Vann was bom in Saint Louis,
Cleodis met his future step­
Mo. on March 12, 1942 to Don and m other, Roberta, when he was 8
EMMANUEL
Church of God in
Christ United
Cleodis Vann
4800 NE 30th Ave. Port­
land OR 97211
503-335-8772
You are cordially invited
to worship with us in
these services:
Sunday Service
Sunday School 10:00 A.M
Y.P.C.E. 6:30P.M
Pastor & W ife-
Bishop & Mrs. A.L. Wright
Worship Service 12:00 Noon
Evangelistic Service 7:00 P.M.
Weekday Service
Tuesday Night: Bible Study 7:00 P.M.
Friday Night: Regular Service 7:30 P.M.
Prayer Meeting & Seminar: Monday - Friday 12:00
years old. He introduced her to
his father and they later married.
The fam ily moved to Portland in
1954; w here they opened up
V ann’s M ortuary. Cleodis was 12
years old when the fam ily moved
out west. He w ould spend his
sum m ers in A rk a n sa s on his
grandfather’s farm helping with
the anim als and spending time
with all o f his cousins.
Cleodis attended Highland El­
ementary School in Portland. He
graduated from Jefferson High
School in 1960 and attended Pacific
Uni versity and later Mt. Hood Com­
munity College where he received
his degree in funeral service and
taught anatomy and physiology to
nursing students.
He played professional football
with the Portland Thunderbirds in
1966 in Canada.
Cleodis served the community
with his parents as co-owner and
mortician o f Vann and Vann Mortu­
ary for nearly 40 years. He also
worked with his uncle in Michigan
in the early 1980s at Caruthers Fu­
neral Home before returning to Port­
land to help his parents manage
their funeral home.
After closing the funeral home,
Cleodis worked for the Portland
Public School District as a bus driver
for a number o f years until he retired
in 2009.
Life was precious to Cleodis and
he enjoyed fishing, cards, dominoes,
Shakespearean plays and watching
cowboy movies; especially movies
with the actor Clint Eastwood. Some
o f his greatest moments were out on
the boat with his buddies fishing
and enjoying nature. He absolutely
loved being out on the water. Other
memorable times were at the Coast
where he was able to just relax and
catch up on his rest.
Cleodis and Diana M artin m ar­
ried on June 20, 1990 and blended
two families. They worked side by
side in the fam ily business for
many years serving the com m u­
nity.
Cleodis is survived by his wife,
Diana; his son Don, his daughter
Tanisha, and his son Chris; four
step children, Angela, Ray, Rachael
and Mario; 14 grandchildren and a
host o f first cousins and relatives.
His sister Doris Jean, mother Nellie,
and father Don all preceded him in
death.
Please visit C leo d is’ online
g u e stb o o k
at
terryfam ilyfuneralhom e.com to
send condolences or share a story
o f remembrance with the family.
Arrangements entrusted to Terry
Family Funeral Home.
Church Leader Remembered
Willa Ida Williams
Friday, April 30th at 7pm
New Song Community Center
2511 NE MLK Blvd.
Corner of NE MLK Blvd and Russell Street
Infant and Toddler care will be provided. Doors open at 6pm for every service
For directions or more information, call 503-488-5481
or log on to w w w .m f lm iiio r t la iid .c o m
community counselor at King School.
Funeral services for Willa Ida
She was a vice president and fit­
Williams, a long time Portland reli­ ness leader forChurch Women United
gious leader and civil rights advocate o f Oregon and was a fitness consult­
who died April 6, 2010, were held ant in a variety of other capacities.
Monday at Vancouver Avenue First She also served at her church’s State
Baptist Church. She was 90.
Convention and was president o f the
She was bom Feb. 4, 1920, in State Mission II Department. In the
Winnsboro, La., the fourth child and National Convention, she served as
only girl to the late Deacon W.M. Supervisor and Consultant for the
Jackson and Mother Eliza Doyle Jack- National Junior Women’s Auxiliary,
son. She was educated in the public President o f the National Minister’s
schools o f Winnsboro and contin­ Wives Auxiliary, and attended the
ued her education at Grambling Uni­ International Women’s Conference
versity where she received her Bach­ for six consecutive years.
elor o f Arts degree in education. She
Mrs. Williams was also instru­
taught elementary school in Louisi­ mental in supporting the following
ana and soon after met her future church activities: Children's spon­
husband, the Rev. Dr. Oliver Booker sorship in foreign co u n tries;
(O.B.) Williams, the founder o f the Mother's Day Tea; and established
historic Vancouver Avenue Church. Mission Encounter Day.
They were married in 1944.
She was recognized for her tireless
Dr. and Mrs. Williams joined the service and detennination to serve
prayer band ofpeople who were prais­ God, her church, her family, her com­
ing and worshipping God in Burton munity, and the world well. She was
Homes in Vancouver under the lead­ also known for providing excellent
ership ofPastor James Brown in ,944. care for her mother, Mrs. Eliza Jack-
A year later, they moved to Portland son until her death.
to become the Pastor and First Lady
Mrs. Williams was p
4ed in
o f Vancouver Avenue.
death by her husband. Dr.
Wil­
She was affectionately referred to liams who passed away in 1993.She
as “Madam” by Dr. Williams and was leaves to mourn her loss several rela­
an integral part o f the church, serving tives, including Bessie Green o f Port­
a variety o f capacities over the years land, her niece who was also a tre­
such as supervising the Beginners mendous caregiver; Alexis Jackson
Department of the Sunday School, o f Atlanta; Melvin (Hattie) Jackson
and directing the Senior Choir, Youth o f Baltimore, Md.; Felton (Leotria)
Ensemble Choir; Junior Women’s Jackson and Elsie (Johnnie) Sims o f
Mission Department and Music De­ Winnsboro; Alicia (Don) Buford,
partment.
Eddie (Janice) Jackson, Lynn Jack-
She taught religious education at son, Sheila Jackson, and Sylvia Jack-
the Highland Baptist Church for more son o f Los Angeles, Calif; a host of
than 30 years, received her Teaching great-nieces and nephews; and a
Certification for Elementary and Jr. number o f very loving close friends
High School in 1953, and served as a too numerous to name.