Doris V. Jefferson

Mrs. James Jefferson, a local Mascoutah area activist, died on March 24, at Four Fountains Convalescent Home. Her death was announced by her children Charles, David, James, and Eva.


Mrs. Jefferson was born Doris Verneice Price in Gonzalez, Texas. She was one of nine children born to Carl and Eva Price. The family moved to San Antonio, Texas. Doris was a very popular girl and was a cheerleader at Phyllis Wheatley High School. During WWII, Mrs. Jefferson married Manuel Scates, an airman. She worked at the Post Exchange at the soda fountain. After her marriage to Mr. Scates ended, she married James Jefferson and had four children by him.


James Jefferson showed his wife the world. They lived in Illinois, France and England. The two of them were quite the bon vivants and loved jazz, parties, and socializing with friends.


In 1960, the Jeffersons returned to the United States when James was stationed at Scott Air Force Base near Mascoutah, Illinois. In 1966, James was sent to Vietnam. Prior to this time, Doris lived the life of a stay at home Mom. This was quite a feat for a woman who grew up in poverty after her father was crushed to death in an industrial accident during the Great Depression when Doris was 16. Not many African-American women lived the life of June Cleaver or Harriet Nelson but Doris did. She helped her children in many ways. She insisted that they go to Sunday school and church. Books and learning were revered. Christmases were filled with toys and laughter. She was a prototypical suburban Mom who happened to live on an Air Force Base. She coached a girl’s softball team and was the leader of a Girl Scout troop and Cub Scout group.


In 1966, when Mrs. Jefferson took responsibility for running the family on her own, a new life opened up for her. This independence coupled with watching her children defy authority in the turbulent 1960”s propelled Doris into a life of politics and activism. She became involved in Democratic politics and was a delegate to the 1984 convention in New York City. She met President Carter. The picture of her with Jimmy and Roslyn was one of her prized possessions.


She and her husband went back to school to get their BA and MA degrees. She worked at the library at McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois. She was also a Coro Fellow.


In 1996, her family noticed that she was having memory problems. In 2001, after the death of James Jefferson, Mom lived in Four Fountains Convalescent Center where she was loved and respected by all who came to know her. She suffered a stroke the day before Thanksgiving in 2007 and started a slow but steady decline. She died on March 24 in her sleep.


She is survived by her sons James, Jr., Charles, and David, her daughter, Eva, and her grandsons Leo and Tony. She was the last of her siblings.


She was a good woman.


Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 9374 Olive Blvd., Suite 101, St. Louis, MO 63132-3253


Visitation: friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 27, 2008 at the Moll Funeral Home in Mascoutah, IL.


Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Mar. 28, 2008 at Chapel 1, Scott Air Force Base, IL. Interment will follow at 11:30 a.m. in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.