October 22, 2023

L. Harrison Jay (third off left), spouse of your own late JoAnne A great. Epps, really stands beside their own casket during the a help kept within Liacouras Focus on Temple’s campus Tuesday.Find out more Alejandro A. Alvarez / Group Photography

It’s possible to say it absolutely was this new Forehead College neighborhood that shuddered Friday since it said good-bye in order to Epps – one of the greats – who were helping because the pretending president when she passed away quickly a week ago. A petite lady with a bright smile one lit up any area, she had a big impact on the college she served to possess almost 40 years.

Epps, a beneficial Yale rules college scholar which grew up in Cheltenham, try appreciated on pupils she mentored, the fellow team she passionate and you may appropriately contributed, the young attorneys she nurtured, the latest friends and family she taken care of and you will lifted right up, and also the college or university she put-off old-age having to serve when there can be you need.

The former legislation school dean and you may provost died after she fell sick on stage on a college or university ceremony into the memories of historian and writer Charles L. Blockson, who was the fresh new curator emeritus of the Blockson Afro-Western Collection.

“She passed away as she lived, shining a light for the anyone else,” told you Elmer Smith, a long time friend and you may former Philadelphia Each day Information columnist.

Regarding the step 1,500 some body gained on Temple’s Liacouras Cardiovascular system to enjoy their unique life, plus fellow college or university presidents Neeli Bendapudi of Pennsylvania State College or university, John A beneficial. Fry out of Drexel College, Valerie Smith off Swarthmore College, and you can Jim Cawley of Rosemont College or university.

Along with attending was in fact Gran Jim Kenney, City Council users, and you will county legislators, and well-known solicitors and judges. Those Epps’ loved ones, including their own husband, L. Harrison Jay, whom spent some time working at the Temple for many years, filled the leading rows.

Epps was spiritual – in her office at home are an indication she published and you can taped toward wall structure: “ the father Might have been A” – and you can prayer and you may musical featured prominently on services.

“You will find missing a great oak. I have lost a precious pal,” told you the fresh Rev. Marshall Mitchell, pastor regarding Salem Baptist Church during the Abington.

Inside the movies tributes, statements, plus-individual testimonials, individuals who understood their unique common the memory out of Epps for the two-plus-hour service. Here’s what some was required to state:

Roberta ‘Bobbi’ Leibenberg, their ‘sister friend’

The two common a passion for generating societal justice and you can a great good dedication to growing assortment in the legal career more than their decades-a lot of time friendship, she said.

They coached a law school category to one another history semester to the gender security as well as the court career. “She told the class that in case she try an early attorneys, she barely actually watched lawyers exactly who looked like their which she desired to function as the resource to own young solicitors you to definitely she never had.”

They were members of the existing Handbags Pub, “started 25 years ago if the label try funny and ironic in place of detailed” together with “Crappy Ass Publication Bar.” She appreciated exactly how Epps came to the initial guide bar conference “inside her usually diligent trend . fully willing to discuss the book” which have verses emphasized and tabbed – only to understand “i hardly spoke regarding the publication and then we was in fact a whole lot more shopping for your food and you will drink to shop for, government, and you can Philly rumors.”

Robert ‘Bob’ Reinstein, exactly who preceded Epps due to the fact dean of your own legislation college or university

The guy remembered providing Epps to his favorite cafe, “an opening throughout the wall surface,” inside the Tokyo when they was basically on vacation together. The property owner was therefore delighted observe them, the guy generated a new appetizer, intense octopus along with its tentacles.

“You’ll have heard of search on her deal with. Following she questioned me, ‘So is this important?’ JoAnne is actually JoAnne ylin artikkeli. She took those chopsticks and you may she gobbled down the octopus which have brand new tentacles. JoAnne knew how important it had been in order to [the property owner].”

Danielle Banking companies, lawyer and Forehead alum

“Together we indicate the newest numerous children and you can attorneys, Black, light, brownish, Western, Latina, LGBTQ+ who had been fortunate enough to possess its life profoundly moved and you can deeply determined by JoAnne Epps. . For people, Black colored attorneys in the a both unforgiving courtroom business you to definitely she understood we were navigating each day, the fresh powering give of someone who appeared to be us suggested the fresh new community.”

Donna Lamborne and Marylouise ‘Weegie’ Esten, ‘sibling friends’

She had a table closet you to definitely appeared as if CVS, which have nail files, cream, cosmetics, Band-Supporting, Motrin, and you may a styling iron. “And in addition we never ever saw people curl their particular tresses as fast as JoAnne.”

She cherished visiting the dental expert, and you will moving so you’re able to Motown audio, they told you. She disliked exclamation activities and believe sampling coffees are awful.

She enjoyed gadgets and you will mutual all of them with loved ones. They each had several battery-run candles one to Epps found “as the she is to your candle probation home in order to have dissolved their unique Tv.”

A few of Epps’ favourite sayings? “I am a hot mess.” “That is a bad truth.” “Yeah, I am not saying starting that.” “I’m so privileged.”

“The fresh new secret out-of JoAnne is the fact she managed to create each and every one folks feel truly special.”

Donal E.C. Jackson, relative

In her own very early lives, Epps had been finding firsts: the original Black colored cheerleader on her high school additionally the basic Black colored vp of your own older classification. She went on to carry on their particular legacies out of firsts given that Temple’s earliest Black colored women rules university dean, basic Black feminine provost, and you may very first Black colored women chairman.

Beasts are often looked at as “larger, hulky guys,” he told you, but Epps clearly meets brand new certification, provided their particular achievements.

Elmer Smith, friend

The guy discussed their decades-much time friendship which have Epps and her spouse together with “warm, appealing atmosphere in their house. JoAnne would make a hassle over your, but did not anticipate you to definitely function inside the form.”

She took costs off her husband’s healing just after the guy suffered a good coronary arrest, down seriously to remaining an in depth range of every his medications and you can the changing times these were you need to take.

“We watched their own confer with their worry team, making certain that that which you was in put since the she got your house. Their own attention to detail was unbelievable.”

Richard M. Englert, Forehead College or university president

“JoAnne have left for us a heritage regarding compassionate, competence, cooperation, union, and always, usually compassion. . We’ll added our selves so you can carrying give JoAnne’s history, and you may guilt on the all of us when we don’t work together in love and preferred mission to build on that legacy and to generate the country best.”