The Jeffersons
By Dilcy H. Hogan
Posted: 4:49p.m .est, October 08, 2006
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When the Jeffersons were born, there were no televisions, radios, microwaves, computers and bread was made at home. The couple has been together for the past sixty-seven years. Until June of 2003, they were still living independent lives in their family home when Deacon Studson Jefferson became ill and had to enter the Heritage Health Care Center in Tallahassee. At that time mother Jefferson’s health began to fail as well. It was not difficult for their beloved daughter Oliver Skinner to make the decision to acquire a room for two at Heritage so that her mother and father could continue to be together. Ironically, Deacon Jefferson, who worked in construction, was part of the crew that built the Heritage Health Care Center.

Dr. Vera L. McIntyre

Deacon Jefferson is a man of short statue with a keen sense of humor, loves to talk and has strong family values. For a laugh, he will ask anyone who comes along "Are you the one who writes the checks" or "Can I get a ride downtown"? He retired at the age of 62 from Florida State University. He was born to Mr. and Mrs. Norman Jefferson in a home on Bucklake Road in Tallahassee. Deacon Jefferson celebrated his 92nd birthday on April 22nd and is the sole surviving sibling of the nine Jefferson children. When he was able to move about more freely, Deacon Jefferson was an active member of the Alex Walton Knights of Pythians Lodge #56, Joshua Lodge, Springfield Community Club and the Valentine Masonic Lodge.

Mother Jefferson, the quieter of the two, will be 90 years young on June 29th. She delights in hearing Deacon Jefferson’s jokes and can remember facts from long years ago. If you hang around her long enough, she will tell you how to make a perfect coconut cake, chocolate and pecan cake, 7-up cake and, of course, her famous tea cakes. Mother Jefferson, a house wife, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Bynium Robinson in a home on Micosukee Road in Tallahassee, Florida. She has two sisters – one resides in Tallahassee, Florida and the other in Uniondale Long Island, New York. Mother Jefferson takes pride in the organizations in which she once held active membership including the Fairest Among Thousand Eastern Star #15, Pride of Tallahassee Court of Calanthe #61, Joshua Lodge, Capital City Garden Club and the Springfield Community Club.

The Jeffersons had ten children and the surviving six live in Florida and Georgia. They have many grand children, great grand children and great, great grandchildren who live throughout the U.S. and Europe (Sweden).

During these "golden" years, the Jefferson’s are the most vocal about their spiritual lives, especially their membership in the Greater Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida. During his active years, Deacon Jefferson served as the Sunday School teacher for the Adult men’s class, a member of the Senior Choir, and in the Deacon’s Ministry. Mother Jefferson was active as the Directress of the Sunshine Band, President of the Mother’s Board, Deaconess Ministry, the Missionary Society, the Golden Age Ministry, the Women‘s Sunday School Bible Class and Mother of the Church. Because both of the Jeffersons are now wheel chair bound they can no longer attend their home church on a regular basis. However, they do attend church service, Sunday school and Bible Study in the Health Center as often as they can.

The Jefferson became widely known in the Greater Tallahassee community by going from one church to another during Emancipation Days to sing Zion Hymns. Everyone would look forward to their Hymns and Mother Jefferson’s famous tea cakes.