LE'VERNA (HESIBEN) CALDWELL

April 17, 1937 - Sept. 23, 2009
SOUTH BEND - Our beloved Le'Verna J. Caldwell passed away from this life at her home on September 23, 2009. The eldest of three daughters, Ms. Caldwell was born on April 17, 1937, in South Bend, Indiana, to the loving parents of Ulysses E. and Mary Elizabeth Hesiben. On June 6, 1959, she wed Elvin T. Caldwell from Chicago, Illinois. From this union she is survived by a daughter, Jodi K. Green, and son-in-law, Reginald Green of Cleveland, Ohio, Elvin Timothy CaIdwell and daughter-in-law, Shelly Caldwell of Indianapolis, Indiana; sisters, Rosalie Boulware and Eunice Pope of Las Vegas, Nevada; nine grandchildren, Elvin III, Jada and Colin of Indianapolis, Indiana, Nehemiah, Sharon, Joy, Melchezidek, Jeremiah and Faith Green of Cleveland; Ohio; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Le'Verna was blessed with a beautiful voice which enabled her to receive a musical scholarship to attend Indiana University of Bloomington, Indiana, after graduation from Central High School in South Bend. Her scholarship to IU was obtained because of her talent and the help of Helen O. Weber, music instructor at Central High School. She performed in the play "Amahl and the Night Visitors" under the direction of James Lewis Casady at Central in 1953. It is an opera in one act by Gian Carlo Menotti. It was not common for a black student to get a lead part at that time. (This verifies her gift for singing.) She went on to receive her bachelor's degree from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, and her master's degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in Cleveland. She taught children in the Cleveland School District with learning disabilities for several years.. Le'Verna, known to most of her friends and family as "Vernie," loved her hometown, and made frequent visits to South Bend.

We will all miss her humor and gregarious personality. She was a dedicated mother and grandmother to her two children and nine grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mrs. Le'Verna J. CaIdwell will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 2, in First AME Zion Church, where Reverend Timothy A. Rouse, the pastor, will officiate, with burial following at Riverview Cemetery. Viewing will take place in the church one hour prior to services. Arrangements have entrusted to Alford's Mortuary where bereavement messages may be e-mailed to alfordsmortuary@comcast.net, c/o the CaIdwell family.

01/10/2023 EJS