Jo Ann Boyce, Pioneer in Civil Rights Movement and Grandmother of Cameron Boyce, Passes Away at 84

Jo Ann Boyce, a trailblazer for civil rights who was among the first Black students to desegregate a Southern public high school, has passed away at the age of 84. The Green McAdoo Cultural Center shared the news, remembering Boyce as a woman who inspired and uplifted everyone she met.

We have lost a truly compassionate and humble individual. Jo Ann shared her story generously with people across the nation. I recall meeting her in Wisconsin a few years ago, where she spoke to students and community members alike, the center said. Those who met her were deeply moved and grateful for her kindness. One student was so touched by her story that they cried, and Jo Ann responded with a comforting hug.

The Historic Role at Clinton High School

In the 1950s, following the Supreme Courts landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, Boyce and 11 classmates became known as the Clinton 12, integrating Clinton High School in Tennessee. On August 27, 1956, they entered the all-white school, marking a historic moment in the fight for equal education in the South.

Despite the courage it took to step inside the school, Boyce later described the experience as overwhelmingly hostile. She left the school after five months due to the intense discrimination and threats she and her peers endured.

Attending the school was an incomplete journey for me. Inside, it was calm, but outside, we faced relentless bigotry and turmoil. Walking to school, climbing the stairs, and navigating the hallways brought daily pain and hostility that was unlike anything we had experienced, Boyce reflected in her writings.

Life After Clinton High

After leaving Clinton, Boyce moved to California, completing her high school education at Dorsey High School and later studying nursing in college. In 1959, she married Victor E. Boyce and became a mother of three.

In 2019, Boyce returned to Clinton for a commemorative event marking the 63rd anniversary of the schools integration. Alongside fellow members of the Clinton 12, she walked into the school and shared her experiences with students, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and embrace friendships.

Family Legacy

Jo Ann Boyce was also the grandmother of the late actor Cameron Boyce, known for his work on Disney Channel, who passed away in 2019 due to epilepsy-related complications.

Author: Connor Blake