Bernice Javonne Anderson

Mrs. Bernice Javonne Anderson of Atlanta, passed December 31, 2024.  Funeral service will be held on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Saint Paul Episcopal Church, 306 Peyton Road, SW 30311, Reverend Pauline Samuels, Rector,  Father Charles Fischer, Eulogist.  Entombment, Westview Cemetery Abbey.  The remains will be  placed in state at the church at 10 a.m. Public viewing will be on Sunday, January 12, 2025 from 12 pm. to 4 pm.

Bernice Javonne Anderson was born on December 12, 1942. She is the daughter of the late Dr. Robert Benton Jackson, Jr. and T. Bernice Poole Jackson of Atlanta, GA. Javonne, as she was fondly known, was a lifetime member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Over the years she served in several capacities including, Sunday School teacher, ECW, Sr. Choir, Vestry, and member of St. Catherine's Circle and the Daughters of the King.

As a native Atlantan, Javonne attended Oglethorpe Elementary and Turner High School. In 1960 she entered Spelman College, graduating in 1964 with a Bachelor's in Psychology. She later obtained a Master's in Elementary Education from Atlanta University.

Javonne married Albert H. Anderson in 1964. From that union they had a daughter, April. Javonne was a life-long educator. She worked with Atlanta Public Schools as an elementary teacher for 30 years. In addition to her work in traditional classrooms, Javonne gave her time and talents to various organizations committed to youth development. These efforts included teaching knitting, macrame, and serving as a Girl Scout troop leader. Less formal examples of her commitment to education are evident in the numerous lives she touched. She frequently took steps to show students the world was bigger than Atlanta by exposing them to various cultures through food and events.

Known for her culinary talent, Javonne honed her skills through the culinary program at what is now Atlanta Metropolitan Collage. After obtaining a culinary degree she launched a home based catering business specializing in original and unique dishes. Ultimately, she set catering aside and narrowed her focus to cakes and her delectable cheese straws.

As travel was a passion, Javonne stayed road trip ready. She explored the U.S., Europe, the Caribbean, and various African counties. She often traveled with her favorite cousin Ann Echols or best friend Carole Henderson. If neither was available, she would solo – driving up and down the east coast to Martha's Vineyard and even attending the1980 Winter Olympics.

Javonne had three great loves in life – family & friends, travel, and parties – and was most happy when she was able to enjoy all at once. She was blessed with a large extended family, a host of friends, and a loving community.

Preceded in death by her parents and brother, Robert B. Jackson, III, Javonne is survived by daughter April (Arthur Walton), grandsons Kaleb, Kade, and Kash Walton, and brother Robert Smedley (Armetta). Also survived by nieces and nephews, Lori Henry (Charles), Robert B. Jackson IV, Leslie Jackson, Meagan and Morgan Coggins, Myriah Smedley, godsons Iman Tyson (Mashari) and Benjamin Joseph Johnson (Paula), and a host of cousins, great-nieces & nephews, and other family members and friends.

Special Thanks The family would like to extend a special THANK YOU to all who cared and supported Bernice Javonne Anderson, including the St. Paul's Community, her sisters of Theta Mu, Turner High School Alumni Class of 1960, Spelman College Alumni Class of 1964, Richard Wood, Rose Marie Lockett, and the medical staff of JenCare Headland (Dr. Rabia Zia).

Just as a caterpillar begins life tethered to the earth only to cocoon's itself

and emerge with wings to fly, Bernice Javonne, you too have developed wings.

Your spirt now has the freedom to soar and explore God's heavenly realm.