Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Jordan, Mildred N. July 3, 2012
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Diane Renfrow dianel14@gmail.com July 29, 2017, 5:23 pm

Virginian Pilot - dated 7/15/2012
Norfolk- Dr. Mildred N. Jordan was born August 31, 1909 to the late James 
and Hattie Jordan and departed this life on Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at her 
residence in her 102nd year.
Dr. Jordan's education began at Smallwood School in Lambert's Point. She 
graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, Norfolk with high honors in 
1928. Thereafter, she enrolled in Hampton Institute (now University) and 
graduated in 1932 with a B.S. degree in home economics with a minor in 
science. She entered Pennsylvania State University in University Park, 
Pennsylvania and received her master's degree in 1948 and the PhD in textile 
chemistry in 1950. She conducted the first comprehensive tests of 
launderability and colorfastness of rayon fabrics; she was the first 
African-American woman to receive her doctorate in textile chemistry from 
that institution.
A courageous individual with a zealous spirit, Dr. Jordan began her 
professional career at Joseph C. Price High School in Salisbury, North 
Carolina, as a vocational home economics teacher. Later, she served as 
Chairperson of the Home Economics Department, Shaw University, Raleigh, 
North Carolina; and Maryland State College in Princess Ann, Maryland. She 
was Dean and Professor Emerita, School of Home Economics at Virginia State 
College (now University) Petersburg, Virginia. During her seventeen years at 
VSU, she was actively involved in teacher education, vocational education 
and home extension planning for the entire state. She sponsored the first 
program at the institution to provide group study opportunities for African 
women. She was a consultant and grant evaluator for the Department of Health 
and Human Services. She frequently stressed the importance of setting high 
standards for her students to whom she was utterly devoted.
Dr. Jordan was a member of many professional including the following: 
American Home Economics Association, Virginia Home Economics Association, 
American Association of University Professors, American Association of 
University Women, Virginia Vocational Association, Old Dominion Vocational 
Association, National Education Association, International Federation of 
Home Economics, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kappa Omicron Phi (now Kappa Omicron Nu), and 
the Hampton University Alumni Association. Her travels took her to India, 
Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska and many parts of the United States. She was awarded 
numerous plaques and certificates for her distinguished service as 
professor, chairperson, director, dean, and community leader. In 2008, she 
and her sister were two of the 12 centenarians featured in the "Witness to a 
Century" project sponsored by the Virginia Historical Society.
At an early age, Dr. Jordan joined Jerusalem Baptist Church and was a very 
active member. After her retirement, she returned to Norfolk where she was a 
member of the senior choir, missionary society, Sunday school, chairman of 
the Board of Christian Education, finance committee, and the building fund. 
Additionally, she was elected as the first woman deacon of the Jerusalem 
Baptist Church and the first woman in Tidewater to be elected as a deacon of 
a Baptist Church. She was later confirmed at Grace Episcopal Church in 
Norfolk. 
In retirement, Dr. Jordan became wholeheartedly involved in civic 
activities. For 17 years, she was chief for Voter Registration, Ward 4 with 
8 helpers in the Brambleton Avenue area. She was an accomplished host, who 
loved cooking and entertaining for her family and friends. She was a loyal 
booster of the Hampton Pirates. Dr. Jordan stated many times that her 
accomplishments and those "building blocks" needed for making contributions 
to the human sciences could be attributed to her deep faith in God, prayers, 
and support and encouragement from her family, colleagues and friends.
She leaves to cherish her memory, a devoted and dedicated sister, Constance 
Coppage of Norfolk; nieces Dorinda Huggins of Columbia, South Carolina and 
Ardette Johnson of Richmond; nephews Albert Burrell of Richmond, Samuel F. 
Coppage of Norfolk, and Arvon Jordan of Arlington, Texas; and a host of 
relatives and friends. 
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 17 at 12 noon in Grace 
Episcopal Church, 1400 East Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, VA. Riddick Funeral 
Service is handling the arrangements. Words of Comfort can be expressed at 
www.riddickfuneralservices.com. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be 
made to Hampton University to support an endowed scholarship in her name.
Published in The Virginian Pilot on July 15, 2012

Additional Comments:
Calvary Cemetery

JORDAN, MILDRED Section 21, Lot 238, Space 2, 08/31/1909 to 07/03/2012

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/norfolkcity/obits/j/jordan13545gob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/vafiles/

File size: 5.3 Kb