Virginia Coffey
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December 14, 1904
Virginia Coffey | |
|---|---|
| Born | Virginia Keys Jones December 14, 1904 |
| Died | December 26, 2003 (aged 99) |
| Burial place | Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Alma mater | Western Michigan University University of Cincinnati Case Western Reserve University |
| Spouse | William A. Coffey |
| Parents |
|
Virginia Coffey (1904–2003), was an American social reformer and civil rights activist who worked for improved race relations in and around Cincinnati, Ohio. She advised and directed several organisations during her career, including a variety of boards and committees.
Education
Virginia Keys Jones was born to Edward and Mary Jones in Wheeling, West Virginia on December 14, 1904. The family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, when Virginia was four years old in order to ensure that she would attend an integrated school. In the 1920s, she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to teach at Stowe School, the first all-black school in the city. She sought to leave the city, because of the segregation she saw, but was encouraged to stay and join the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People by Ted Berry. After working as a teacher for a few more years, she chose to dedicate herself fully to working for racial equality.[1]
She attended Western Michigan University, where she graduated with a degree in education.[1] Virginia was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.[2] She later attended the University of Cincinnati where she studied sociology. Virginia was awarded a master's degree from the Cleveland-based Case Western Reserve University.[1] She was made an honorary Doctor of Law by Xavier University in 1972.[3]