Iona Finney
Born June 1, 1928, Anniston, Alabama
Entered into Rest February 23, 2007, Long Beach, California
Iona
Finney was born on June 1, 1928 in Anniston, Alabama. She was the youngest
of 15 children born to the union of Lucious and Eva Finney. Her early
education was in Lutheran Schools and the Lutheran church.
In 1954
Iona met and married John H. Acklin, Jr. To this union three girls were
born joining her two older children. They all became the Acklin “Brady
Bunch.”
Iona pioneered
in the Anniston Head Start Program. She was the first African American
school nurse in the Anniston city schools. Following retirement, she made
her home in California.
Iona was
a member of Christ Second Baptist Church in Long Beach, California with
Rev. Michael J. Ealey as pastor. An advocate for equal rights she was
involved in the Alabama “movement” for desegregation. She
loved singing and playing the keyboard. Her daughter Beverly Acklin Collins,
grandson Trevaris Stewart, parents, 15 brothers and sisters and other
relativees preceded her in death.
She leaves
to cherish her memories the father of her children, John H. Acklin, Jr.,
son Dwayne Stewart, both of Anniston, Alabama; daughters Dr. Earlene Stewart
Ligons (Dr. John, Sr.) of Lakewood, California; Charlotte Nealy of Anniston,
Alabama; Sandra Acklin of Long Beach, California; grandsons Preston Golston
(Sandy) of Scottsdale, Arizona and Eric Golston of Lakewood, California;
Cederick Collins of Atlanta, Georgia; Jamarco Stewart of Dallas, Texas;
great-grandsons Delione Frye Golston and Eric Golston II of Bellflower,
California; sisters Mary Jones of Los Angeles, California; Parthenia Thomas
of Anniston, Alabama, a special nephew Jimmy Cherry of Texas and a host
of other relatives, extended family and friends.
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