Mrs. Joe Lever

Joe Ann Shearer Lever, the wife of William Boldridge Lever, died November 23, 2011 after a brief illness. She was the daughter of the late Isaac Briles Shearer and Janie Algee Shearer. She was 75 years old. In addition to her husband, she is also survived by a daughter, Mary Jane Goodwin and her husband, Chris Goodwin, of Anderson, South Carolina; a son, Briles Lever of Spartanburg, South Carolina; and a grandson, Thomas William Goodwin of Anderson, South Carolina. She was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Holland Shearer. She was married to her husband for 48 years. Joe Ann Shearer Lever was devoted to her family and proud of their many accomplishments. Mrs. Lever, Dean Emerita of the College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor emerita of biology at Converse College, was a native of Marshall County, Mississippi, where she grew up on a cattle and cotton farm. She was a graduate of Byhalia High School. She earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in biology from the University of Mississippi, where she worked as a laboratory assistant in general biology and zoology for four years. She did further study at the University of North Carolina and Bryn Mawr College and completed course work toward a doctorate in higher education at the University of South Carolina. Dean Lever began her career at Perkinston Junior College and Blue Mountain College for Women in Mississippi. She joined the Converse College faculty in 1962. She served on virtually every committee of the College during her 42 years there. She held such faculty positions as President of the Faculty Senate and Chair of the Tenure and Promotions, Academic Advisers, and Honorary Degree Committees. She was Co-Chair of the committee that planned the celebration of the Converse College Centennial. She was director of the Office of Career Services and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Dean Lever was selected by her peers as the first recipient of the Spirit of Converse Award and was designated as an Honorary Alumna by the Converse College Alumnae Association. She received the Sears-Roebuck Foundation Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award, which was established to recognize a faculty member who had made unusual contributions to the College and to the community in leadership, scholarship and service. She was an honorary member of the Dance Ensemble at Converse. She was a National Science Foundation Fellow and a member of the South Carolina Academy of Science and Southeastern Association of Biologists Upon her retirement in 2002, Converse College awarded her a Doctor of Laws degree and a laboratory in Phifer Hall was named in her honor. Earlier two endowments were established in her name at Converse College. Commenting on Dean Lever's retirement, Bonnie Bailey Webster, a 1994 Converse biology alumna, said, "It has been said that a teacher can shape a student, and a student can shape the world. The world is a better place for the countless number of women Joe Ann Lever has shaped-among them mothers, nurses, doctors, teachers, scientists, and community leaders." Another biology alumna Palmer Davison Ball, class of 1984, established the Joe Ann Lever Biology Award in 2002. The award is presented to a senior biology major with an outstanding academic record and a demonstration of love for the field of biology such as that exhibited by Dean Lever. On December 9, 2010, an anonymous alumna had the auditorium in Kuhn Science Hall named in honor of Dean Lever. Following her official retirement in 2002, Dean Lever was again director of the Office of Career Services while a search for a new director was completed. For one year she was director of the Converse II Program. In 2006 Dean Lever received the Dexter Edgar Converse Award, the highest award that is given by Converse College. A statement at the Thousand Thanks Donor Gala at the time she received this award said, "It is fitting that on this night we shine the spotlight on one of our finest, Joe Ann Lever, whose leadership and generous commitment of time and financial support have moved the College to new heights." Although Dean Lever always said she had two passions in life, her family and Converse College, she also was active in her community. She served as President, First Vice President, and Corresponding Secretary of the Spartanburg Branch of the American Association of University Women, as Editor of the South Carolina AAUW newsletter, and Chairwoman of South Carolina Corporate Representatives for AAUW. Dean Lever was also a recipient of a named gift to the AAUW Foundation. She was a member of the Board of Directors of AWARE and was Vice Chair of the Board of the Adult Learning Center. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Alpha Psi Omega, and a charter member of the Jessamine Society, an honorary society which recognizes outstanding women of the upstate on the basis of achievement, vision, creativity, commitment, compassion, and leadership. She was a past member of the Breakfast Business and Professional Women where she served as Vice President and Parliamentarian. She was a member of Altrusa where she served as President, twice as Vice President, Vice President of the local Altrusa Foundation, and as chair of the Literacy Committee. She was named Altrusan of the Year in 2008; she was Co-Chair of the Altrusan committee that developed READ ON, a program that provided opportunities for citizens of Spartanburg County to improve their educational level. In recognition of her service to Altrusa and to the Spartanburg community, she received the Margaret P. Adams Award from Altrusa of Spartanburg in 2005. She was a member of the Battle of Cowpens Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Dean Lever was a past member of the South Carolina Commission of the Status and Role of Women of the United Methodist Church and served as the editor of the newsletter for that organization. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she had been a Sunday school teacher, served on the Board, and was an Archivist. She also served as president of the Garden Study Club. She was a volunteer driver with Mobile Meals of Spartanburg and looked forward to her weekly visits with those to whom she delivered meals. In 2009, Joe Ann Shearer Lever became aware of and interested in the critically endangered Carolina Marsh Tacky Horse and worked tirelessly to help the vanishing breed of horse, native to South Carolina, become the official State Heritage Horse of the State of South Carolina. The Act declaring the Marsh Tacky the State Heritage Horse was signed by Governor Sanford on June 11, 2010. The family will receive friends Saturday, November 26, 2011 from 3:00 -5:00 PM at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel. Funeral services will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Steve Holler of Trinity United Methodist Church and Jason Loscuito, the Chaplain of Converse College, officiating. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Joe Ann Shearer Lever Memorial Academic Fund at Converse College, 580 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302 or to the endowment at Trinity United Methodist Church, 626 Norwood Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mrs. Joe Ann Lever please visit our Sympathy Store.