Post Script: Local teacher was an active participant in desegregation
By BROWN CARPENTER, The Virginian-Pilot
© February 24, 2006
Thelma Reid Clemons
1917-2006
CHESAPEAKE — Thelma Reid Clemons discovered the importance of higher education later than most college students. During the 1950s, when her children were starting school and her husband’s seafood market was established, she enrolled in Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) and eventually emerged with a master’s degree in science.
“She had to take the ferry from Norfolk to Hampton,” recalled William M. Clemons, one of her sons. “Our father would drive from Oak Grove to the boat every Monday at
6 a.m.” His mother would return home Friday evening.
Thelma Clemons, who died Feb. 15 at age 88, was the widow of Clarence A. Clemons Sr., who owned Clemons Seafood Market in the Berkley section of Norfolk.
Eager to share her enthusiasm for education, she began a lengthy teaching career at the old East Suffolk High School. Later, she taught math at Crestwood High School, then an all-black facility in Chesapeake.
When local public schools began desegregating in the ’50s and ’ 60s, she was an active participant. “She was one of the first teachers from a black school to request an assignment at Great Bridge High School, which was white,” said her son Clarence Clemons Jr., famous as a saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen’s rock band.
Chesapeake City Manager Clarence V. Cuffee took algebra from Mrs. Clemons.
“She was a student-friendly teacher,” he said, “who was always available for you.”
When local public schools began desegregating in the ’ 50s and ’ 60s, Thelma Clemons was an active participant.
“She was one of the first teachers from a black school to request an assignment at Great Bridge High School, which was white,” said her other son Clarence Clemons Jr., a solo artist and former saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen’s rock band.
His mother retired in 1979 as head of the Great Bridge High s cience d epartment. But she still had contributions to make.
Thelma Clemons was active in the Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church, singing in the choir and distributing Meals on Wheels to the homebound. She also participated in the Resource Mothers Program organized at Norfolk State University to help pregnant teens.
“She was a phenomenal woman,” said Ingrid McGowan, who served on the advisory board of the program.
As a product of a strictly religious upbringing, his mom wasn’t always impressed with the jazz notes spewing from Clarence Jr.’s sax.
“She told me not to quit my day job,’’ he said.
Reach Brown Carpenter at
postscripts@pilotonline.com
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