Edwilda Gustave Isaac Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Edwilda Gustava Allen Isaac of Richmond,VA, born and raised in Farmville, Virginia, passed away quietly on January 21, 2022, at the age of 84. She was predeceased in death by her sister Dr. Edna Allen Dean and by her parents Edward Baker Allen and Vera Omega Allen nee Jones. Edwilda attended Robert R. Moton Elementary School and Robert R. Moton High School in Farmville, Virginia. At an early age, she understood the importance of activism. In 1951, while at R.R. Moton, she participated in a student walkout to demand better schools which eventually led to the landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. She continued her education at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she received her bachelor's degree in Music Therapy. Later she received her master's degree in Education at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Once Edwilda·entered the work force, she served in a multitude of positions in a variety of places. She worked as a Music Therapist at a juvenile home. Edwilda worked at Veteran's Hospital and state hospitals in Wisconsin, New Jersey, and New York. She worked as the Director of Music Therapy at Manhattan State Hospital, New York. In the early 60s, she left New York for California. She worked at the Police Department in Compton, California. She received her teaching credential at the University of California at Los Angeles. She had 35 years of total service in education before retiring. She worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District as a kindergarten through 12th grade classroom teacher and a Multicultural Resource Teacher. In the late 80s, Edwilda moved back home to Virginia and served an additional 13 years in education as a teacher for the Prince Edward County Public Schools in Farmville, VA teaching on the elementary and high school levels as well as serving as band director and choral director. While working in New York she met Elton Isaac. Edwilda married Elton at First Baptist Church in Farmville, and from that union, her two daughters, Lori and Jill, were born. In retirement, Edwilda took up art as her new vocation. She was mostly self-taught and dabbled in a variety of media including colored pencils; watercolor pencils; watercolors; acrylics; pyrography, or wood burning; and oil paints. She also continued teaching piano to individual music students, she played for church choirs, and she offered reading tutoring and a book give away program for children. Edwilda used her many musical and artistic talents, enthusiasm, and resources to serve the community and participated in a variety of clubs. She participated in chorus, drama club, philosophy club, psychology club, the International Club, and Phi Delta Kappa. She was also a member of the Virginia Music Educators Association, Inc. With her mother and sister, and the Martha E. Forrester Society, Edwilda actively participated in the process to purchase the building to make R.R. Moton into a historical landmark and museum. In 2015, she was awarded Outstanding Team Spirit for the Moton Family Challenge. She received many honors and achievements throughout her lifetime. She was the valedictorian of her high school graduating class. She was voted Teacher of the Year for the 1993-1994 school year and the 1995-1996 school year. She is known for her life-long friendships, her love of arts and crafts including sewing, knitting, crocheting, drawing, and painting, and her love of books and reading. She was an enduring student of all things Black History and Brown vs. the Board of Education. Her infectious laughter, sense of humor, enthusiasm, selflessness, and generosity will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her daughters, Lori Isaac, Dr. Jill Isaac Anderson (Kevin Anderson); her three grandchildren, Royce Isaac, Amare Anderson, and Jaydon Anderson; and a myriad of cousins and friends. Edwilda was also known as Eddye, Red, Mbuya, and Boo. We lost a mother, grandmother, and friend. Although we will never be able to replace her, her memory will live on and her presence will always be felt. She will be forever cherished in our hearts.

Tributes

Edwilda Gustave Isaac

August 17, 1937 - January 21, 2022