Claudette J. Wallace

WALLACE, Claudette J., Dr. Dr. Claudette J. Wallace, widow of Deacon Elmo Wallace Sr., departed unexpectedly Monday (June 28, 2004). The daughter of the late Thomas and Frances Jefferson, she was a retired professional educator of the New Britain School District who touched the lives of a multitude of students as well as colleagues with her pedagogy and often quoted maxim, "I touch the Future---I Teach". Sister Wallace was the last founding member of the Mount Olive Church of God in Christ, in New Britain, and during her more than 60 year membership at Mount Olive Church of God in Christ, she diligently and actively served as a Sunday School Teacher, YPWW leader, trustee, and member of various churchwork committees including the Mother's Board, Missionary Board, and finance. Missionary Wallace was for several decades a State District Missionary for the First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Bishop Charles H. Brewer Jr. Dr. Wallace was a former member of the Human Rights Commission, B.E.A.M., a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and within that association she was a former local branch secretary, chairperson of the education committee, and actively served on a variety of committees including voters registration, youth branch advisor, and political action. Dr./Missionary/Sister Claudette Wallace was a loving mother and devoted grandmother, who leaves to remember her as "mother", "nana", and "mommy", her eldest son Elmo Wallace Jr. of New Britain; her daughter Dr. Renee Wallace of Georgia; her sister Eileen Jefferson Wallace of Middletown; her brother Willie T. Jefferson of New York City; her brother-in-law Warren Burton Sr. of New Britain; her sister-in-law, Olivia Beachum; and niece, Ruthenia Moses, both of Orlando, Florida; six beautiful grandchildren, Nicole Wallace of Plainville, and Simmi Wallace, Rajee Wallace, Claudette Wallace, Love Wallace, all of New Britain, and Michael Wallace of Houston, Texas; and three great-grandchildren Kayla, Deral, and Zaire Wallace, all of New Britain. In addition, she will be missed and fondly remembered by seven nieces, ten nephews, and a host of church family, colleagues, and friends. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Wednesday, July 7 at 1 p.m. at Spottswood AME Zion Church, 25 Crestwood Lane, New Britain. A private burial in Fairview Cemetery, New Britain, will be held at the convenience of the family. We invite you to share a memory of Dr. Claudette Wallace with the family at rwallace69@hotmail.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dr. Claudette Wallace Educational Scholarship Fund c/o Mount Olive Church of God in Christ, 70 Tremont Street, New Britain 06051. Porter's Funeral Service in Kensington www.portersfuneral.com is in charge of arrangements.