Many people are just now discovering who Jo Ann Boyce was after her recent death.
Jo Ann Boyce was the grandmother of Cameron Boyce, a promising young actor who sadly passed away at the age of 20 in 2019. He died from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) after experiencing a seizure during sleep.
Although Cameron, known for his roles in films such as Grown Ups, Descendants, and Mirrors, was considered the most famous in his family, his grandmother Jo Ann was also a notable figure for different reasons.
Unlike her grandson, Jo Ann Boyce was not involved in the entertainment industry, but she was renowned as an activist and a member of ‘The Clinton 12’.
‘The Clinton 12’ were a group of African-American students who integrated into an all-white school in 1956, becoming some of the first to attend a state-run public school in Tennessee.
The integration of schools followed the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
Jo Ann, then known as Jo Ann Allen, and her fellow students faced significant opposition at the time. The KKK protested at the school, and tensions escalated to the point where the National Guard was deployed to Clinton for protection, according to the Tennessee State Museum.
Unfortunately, most of the children eventually left the school. Jo Ann was among those who moved away, relocating to Los Angeles, where she pursued a career as a pediatric nurse.
Jo Ann passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 84 on Wednesday, December 3. As news of her death spread, many are recognizing her as more than just Cameron’s grandmother, but also as a significant historical figure.
Tributes and thoughts about her have been shared online.
“She’s one of the reasons why public schools are integrated. Rest in power,” one person commented.
In response, someone else noted, “Oh so being iconic just runs in the Boyce family?”
Another individual highlighted Jo Ann’s legacy: “Besides being Cameron’s grandmother, Jo Ann was also a member of the ‘Clinton 12’.
“At just 14, she was among the first Black students to desegregate Clinton High School in Tennessee following the Brown vs. Board of Ed case. It was one of the first desegregated public schools in the south.”
Honoring the late 84-year-old, another person wrote: “Rest in power, Jo Ann. The Clinton 12 changed history forever. Thank you.”
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