Happy 100th birthday Violet Gordon

Violet Gordon will celebrate her 100^th birthday on Friday, Oct. 7.

She was born in Oklahoma, graduated with her bachelors from Howard University, and with her master’s degree in social work from Catholic University, both schools in Washington D.C.

In 1942, Gordon was one of the first Black WAACS (Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps) in World War II. She held the rank of first lieutenant, and was a captain when she was discharged in 1946.

She married her soul mate, Lester Gordon,  in 1954 and lived in Brooklyn, New York. Lester died in 1982.

For 30 years she worked as a supervisor and school social worker. She was always an avid reader and enjoyed the arts. She attended the opera, theater, symphony, ballet, and many museums..

Gordon moved to Florida in 1986 and was very active in the Palm Coast community. She was a member of the African American Caribbean Heritage Organization, Safe House, the Flagler County Public Library, the Northeast Florida Jazz Society, American Association of University Women, Reading Women’s Group, African American Cultural Society, Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and St. Mark’s Day School.

She was also involved in the establishment of Christ Lutheran Church. In 2006, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation presented her with a bronze award for her community service.