Dr. Eleanor Green Dawley-Jones

1929 - 2021

Dr. Eleanor Green Dawley-Jones, of Virginia Beach, VA, passed away on Monday, March 1, 2021. She was 91. Eleanor was born in Norfolk, VA on August 10, 1929 as one of six children to the late George Herbert Green, Sr. and Lillian Vaughn Green. At the age of 15, Eleanor graduated as valedictorian from Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk (1945) and received a scholarship to attend Howard University, where she received her B.S. degree in Mathematics (1949), and an M.S. degree in Mathematics (1950). After graduating from Howard University, Eleanor returned to Booker T. Washington High School as a mathematics and science teacher for two years. Later she was hired as an instructor of mathematics at Hampton Institute (now University), in Hampton, Virginia. In 1962, Eleanor moved with her two young sons, to Syracuse, New York, where she supported her family while pursuing a doctoral degree at Syracuse University. She earned her Ph.D. from Syracuse University in 1966. Eleanor was subsequently elected to the Sigma Xi Science Honor Society and was quoted as the eleventh African American woman in the United States to earn her Ph.D. degree in mathematics. In 1967, Eleanor rejoined the faculty at Hampton University and one year later she took a position as Professor of Mathematics at what was then Norfolk State College. Eleanor became a tenured professor at Norfolk State University and retired in 2003 as Professor Emeritus from Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia. Eleanor is listed with The History Makers, the largest African American Video Oral History Collection in the United States. She was interviewed February 7, 2012. She has two peer-reviewed published papers in the American Mathematical Monthly (May,1967 and March 1969). Eleanor was committed to living the spiritual life of her Catholic faith that she so loved. She was a member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church and was very active in many facets of Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia. Eleanor also served her community through many distinguished organizations. She was a golden life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and was active with the Norfolk Alumnae Chapter. Eleanor was a member of the Norfolk Chapter of the Links, Inc. and held offices at the local and regional levels. Other membership affiliations include the Committee for Opportunities for Underrepresented Minorities of the American Mathematical Society; The Executive Board of the Association for Women in Mathematics; Board of Governors for the Mathematical Association of America; and served as Vice President of the National Association of Mathematicians. Eleanor was preceded in death by her son, Herbert Green Dawley, brothers, George Herbert Green, Jr. and Walter Howard Green, Sr., and sisters Barbara Ann Bess (George), Lillian Childers (William), and Dr. Mary Agnes Wyche (Edmund). Eleanor's memory will be cherished by her loving sons, Dr. Edward Armistead Dawley, III (Armande) of Dover, DE and Everette Benjamin Jones, Jr (Tonya) of Chesapeake, VA and grandchildren, Christopher Charles Matthew Dawley, Esther Eleanor Dawley and Joseph Benjamin Jones; sisters-in-law, Elnora P. Green (George) and Alveta V. Green (Walter) of Norfolk, VA; nephews, George T. Bess Jr. and Michael J. Bess of Baltimore, MD and Walter H. Green Jr. of Chesapeake; nieces, Dr. Alveta Green, and Darlene Green of Virginia Beach; great nieces Stephanie Walters (Joseph) and Rashage Green and a host of other relatives and friends. Our dear mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend lived an amazing life filled with many accomplishments and limitless courage that we will always honor and celebrate. Viewing will be from 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 9th at Riddick Funeral Service, 1225 Norview Ave, Norfolk, VA 23513 The funeral mass will take place at 10:00 am, Friday, March 12th at St. Matthews Catholic Church, 3314 Sandra Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23464. Due to COVID-19 and for the benefit of those not attending in person, the funeral mass will be live streamed from the church. Go to the website address: https://www.riddickfuneralservices.com and click on the "obituaries" heading and find Dr. Eleanor Green Dawley Jones.