When Joe Idlette Sr. moved to the area from Georgia in 1923, the roots he put down with wife Nancy, a local girl whose father William Cookley moved here from South Carolina in the 1890s, would eventually spread out to support a fruitful family tree whose descendants have had a profound impact on Indian River County. Their offspring were feted last Saturday evening at the 18th annual Pioneer Family Recognition Dinner.
This signature event of Vero Heritage Inc., which operates the host venue Heritage Center and Citrus Museum, paid particular tribute to Joe N. Idlette Jr. and Bernice, his wife of 62 years. Guests arriving to the sold-out event were entertained by talented members of the Gifford Youth Orchestra, one of many organizations supported by the family.
Jennifer Idlette shared the family’s earliest history as Georgia slaves, freemen and sharecroppers, before reading a wonderful tribute story written by former President Jimmy Carter about his nanny, Rachel Idlette Clark. She also spoke of the indignities endured by black families in racially segregated Indian River County, such as not being allowed to try on clothes in stores, being denied restaurant and hotel service, and the nightly 9 p.m. bell, indicating they had to get off the street.
Godfrey Gibson, a retired educator, spoke of the segregated Gifford High School he attended with Joe and Nancy Idlette’s eight children (Joe Jr., Eugene, Lillie Mae and Gloria Jean are still living) from elementary grades through high school. When the new school was built in 1952 on 45th Street, the school district did not provide a moving service; students had to carry their own books and furniture from the former 39th Street location. Despite a general lack of resources, including secondhand books and cast-off equipment, the school had superb teachers and broad community support. Graduates included gifted athletes, all variety of professionals, and even a three-star general.
“I would like to ask parents, grandparents, great-grandparents to teach the history of our community so your children will be proud of where they come from,” said Gibson.
Joe Jr. and Bernice Idlette’s children – Anthony, Joe III, Keith, Jacqueline, Jennifer and Jody – and 10 grandchildren have enjoyed a string of accomplishments thanks in large part to their father’s courageous actions.
While he served in the Army during the Korean War, the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruled that public school segregation was unconstitutional. After returning to Vero, he worked with Pan Am at Patrick Air Force Base and established several businesses with lifelong friends, including Hillcrest Supermarket, the Industrial Growers citrus grove, and UniFour Construction. Bernice was a successful cosmetologist.
When Indian River County schools remained segregated 10 years after the ruling, he realized that nothing would change unless someone took the initiative, so he filed a 1964 lawsuit against the school board. Despite a KKK death threat and many delays, by 1969 sons Anthony, Joe III and Keith were among the first to attend formerly all-white schools.
To insure all children would have equal access to a quality education, Idlette became the first black school board member in 1974, a position he maintained 20 years. In that role, he was proud to present diplomas to most of his children on their graduation days.
Idlette has also volunteered on boards and committees at the IRC Ambulance Squad, Indian River Habitat for Humanity, Our Father’s Soup Kitchen, Gifford United Promise Keepers and the Progressive Civic League.
At the end of the evening, board member Janie Gould announced that the DuBose family will be honored in 2018.