Laverne Jordan

On Sunday, March 2, 2025, LaVerne Husbands Jordan passed from this earth to her eternal home, leaving her heartbroken family to mourn her departure.

The seventh of eight children, LaVerne Husbands was born on June 18, 1934 to Norman and Carrie Husbands in Heidelberg, Mississippi. While her early education was completed in Heidelberg, she graduated from Vallejo High School in Vallejo, California, where five of her older siblings had relocated during the Great Migration. She returned to Mississippi and matriculated at Rust College in Holly Springs, where she met William G. Jordan, a Decatur, Mississippi native. The couple graduated in 1955, married the following year, and began teaching in her hometown of Heidelberg. Later, three children would follow: Dwayne Jerold, Pamela Joanne, and Donna Jeannette.

In Heidelberg, William was a high school science teacher, while LaVerne taught elementary school students. She was Pamela’s second grade teacher, and had to remind her daughter to call her “Mrs. Jordan,” and not “Mama.”

In 1968, after William completed a master’s degree in science at Oregon State University, the family relocated to the Portland suburb of Gresham, Oregon, and the couple began teaching in Portland-area schools. She then completed a master’s degree in Education at the University of Portland. Later she chose to stay at home and care for her children, supporting their academic, musical and athletic activities. She loved words - completing daily crossword puzzles in pen, playing scrabble, reading, writing short stories and comically inventing new words, such as whipleg. She was an extraordinary cook, and prioritized family dinners. LaVerne also loved music. She played piano, and it was common to hear Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata or Chopin’s Prelude #4 in E minor in the home. In addition, she and William were choir members at Rockwood United Methodist Church, the Portland Chorale, and long-time Oregon Symphony season ticket holders.

LaVerne is survived by her children: Dwayne (Genevieve), Pamela, Donna (Jeffrey Taylor), grandson Jordan Taylor, and sisters LaVera Thompson and Mary Tilbury. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, William, parents Norman and Carrie Husbands, and siblings Cecil Husbands, Mildred Williams, Norman Husbands, Jr., Kelly Husbands, and Effie Clay.

A memorial service for LaVerne will be held Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 1 pm at the Vancouver Heights United Methodist Church,

5701 MacArthur Blvd, Vancouver, WA. 98661 - (360) 693-4761.