This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/WMB.2ACE/4720 Message Board Post: The Sun, San Bernardino, CA - Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004 Jewell Vennerrie Elvoid Shelton brought the battle for civil rights to San Bernardino by changing things from the top - as the first black president of the San Bernardino Board of Education. As president of the San Bernardino Board of Education from 1975 to 1983, Shelton was instrumental in integrating San Bernardino schools. This came naturally to her. "Since she was able to (help people), she did it," said her husband, Robert Shelton of San Bernardino. "She was just that type of person." Shelton died Monday in her San Bernardino home of natural causes. She was 75. Born October 28, 1928, in St. Louis, Shelton was the only child of Ellsworth and Ethel Elvoid. Shelton met her husband Robert in high school, when he was working at a grocery store and she was trying to talk him into selling her a 10-cent head of cabbage for 5 cents. "She was so nice-looking that I think I gave her the cabbage for five cents," Robert Laughed. Shelton thirsted for knowledge and because her husband was in the Navy, she learned everywhere the family went, taking classes at colleges across the country. She eventually got a master's degree in values from the San Francisco Theological Seminary. The family moved to San Bernardino in 1963 and Shelton first became involved with the Congress of Racial Equality. Because of her work, members of CORE suggested she seek the school board presidency. Shelton also created the "Choice Living Consortium" program that offers motivational seminars and inspirational workshops. She examined how spirituality played in harmony with modern physical medicine. Though it was her business. she treated it with her trademark generosity. "She charged very little," her husband said. "If you paid, that was fine; if you didn't that was fine too." Other survivors include son Jan Shelton of San Bernardino, daughters Robbin Santiago of Grand Terrace, CA, Annora Dean of San Bernardino and Alika Gallaway of Minneapolis; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Services will take place at 11 AM Friday at the First Prebyterian Church in San Bernardino. NOTE: Submitter is not related to deceased in any way. Obituary is provided for genealogical interest only. ~RIP~