CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF
ABELLE EDITH PALMORE NIVENS

1916

2008

Friday April 11, 2008 3:00 p .m .
MIDLAND VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL MUSTANG LANE
REVEREND DR. RONALD COLEMAN
Pastor o f Valley Fair Baptist Church

Obituary
MOTHER, WIFE, EDUCATOR AND TRAILBLAZER
The world lost a beautiful soul on April 4, 2008 at the Aiken Regional Hospital.
Dr. Abelle Edith Palmore Nivens was born on May 16, 1916 as the tenth child of Abraham and Minnie Palmore of Graniteville, South Carolina.
Mrs. Nivens' mother, Minnie Palmore, was a teacher who taught for over 50 years in the public schools of South Carolina and then retired to open her own private kindergarten for another 30 years. As a daughter, of an educa tor Abelle advanced in her education early in life. She managed to complete her junior college studies at Bettis Academy at the early age of eighteen(18) years old.
Thereafter, she answered her life's call and began teaching at a small school on the outskirts of Aiken County. Her next job was a demanding assignment outside of the Town of Estill, South Carolina. In this Low Country, one teacher school, she taught mostly the children of the plantation workers of the area. She remained there for seven years until she submitted to her desire to further her education.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from South Carolina State College in 1945. After graduation, she returned to Estill for one term to fulfill her promise to the administration and families of the area.
On June, 1946, she was joined in holy matrimony to her college sweetheart, the late Manuel J. Nivens. He was also community activist, dedicated life member of NAACP and a retired insurance manager and agent of Atlanta Life Insurance Company.
Mrs. Nivens entered the prestigious Columbia University Teachers College, New York City, New York and contin ued until she completed the Master Degree Program 1950. She returned to her home of South Carolina to teach as she continued her studies during summer months. She continued to study until she received 30 hours above her Masters Degree.
Mrs. Nivens taught in many Aiken County Public Schools such as Horsecreek, Clearwater and Jefferson Elementary for forty three (43) years. In 1979, she retired from the Public School System and started the Minnie Palmore House Learning Center. Abelle poured her life's dreams, savings and energy into this institution for over 25 years until she retired her second time in 2004.
Her greatest honor was bestowed by her beloved alma mater South Carolina State University in an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities awarded in 1989. Mrs. Nivens received other honors as follows: The World Who's Who of Women 1984, Who's Who of Black America, Citizen of the Year for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Woman of the Year for Aiken County Chamber of Commerce , Citizen of the Year for Friendship Baptist Church and several other area churches, American Biographical Institute, International Directory of Distinguished Leadership, Who's Who Among American Teachers 1994, and Aiken County Teacher of the year 1977. She had the following publications; "Women and the Changing Times", "Changes of Racial Attitudes in our Community", "Women and the Ecology", "What is a Teacher", and "You Give of Yourself'.
Some of Mrs. Nivens professional awards and accomplishments were as follows: Held all offices from president to member of the Aiken County Teachers Association, State Chairman of Primary Department, Board Member of Aiken County Council on Mental Health, Member of the Advisory Council of the Aiken County Board of Education Area #3. National Educator Association Life Member, Member of the Board of Directors of the Central Savannah River Area Girl Scouts, Secretary of the Black Coalition of Aiken County, Member of the Concerned Citizens for Better Education for Black Aiken Countians, Member of the National Council for Negro Woman, Member of N.A.A.C.P., Member of Tau Gamma Delta Sorority, Inc.
Mrs. Niven's greatest joys have been her family. Two daughters were born to the union of Manuel and Abelle Nivens, Cellilus Dorothy (Charlie) Spell and Lauminnia Nivens. She was the proud grandmother of five grandsons, one granddaughter, and the grandmother to several others by emotional adoptions. She also leaves to mourn her lost four great grand children and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.
Abelle joined the Valley Fair Baptist Church at a young age. She served faithfully and was the church clerk for over 50 years. When God called her home she held the longest continued membership having been baptized at eight years of age.

Abelle and Manuel

Order of Service

REV. TROY NIPPER - PRESIDING PASTOR - ROSA HILL BAPTIST CHURCH, WAGNER, S.C.

Friday, April 11, 2008

P r e lu d e ............................. Processional

...........Mr. Cedric W right Mr. Courtney Dwight

S o l o .................................. ......... W ind Beneath M y Wings . ... M rs.Jacqueline Young

Scriptures ...................... ....................Old T esta m en t......................Rev. Mildred M cKie Associate Minister, Old Storm Branch Baptist Church, Clearwater, S.C.

New T estam en t............ .................................................................... Rev. Jerom e Anderson Pastor, New M t. Zion Baptist Church Orangeburg, S.C.

S o lo ................................... ..... His Eyes Is O n The Sparrow ............. Ms. Flaire Jonez

P rayer.............................. ..................................................................Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Irvin Pastor, Old Storm Branch Baptist Church

Solo ................................. ................. The Lords Prayer ........ Mr. W ashington H olm es

Reflections (3minutes please) F rien d ................................................................................ Mrs. Thom icina Boughknight Stu d ent......................................................................................... .......Ms. Brittany Greene Com m unity L ead er.................................................................. ........Mr. Tom m y M oore

S o lo .................................. ............................L et G o ...................... ............. M s. Priscilla Rena

Reflections E d u cato r.................... Church M ember .... Family M e m b e r.....

S o l o .................................. ............................. S ta n d ....................... ...........Mr. Roger Jenkins

Words o f C o m fo rt....... ..............................................................Rev. Dr. Ronald Colem an

Pastor, Valley Fair Baptist Church,

Recessional

Graniteville, S.C.

Interment John Mays Memorial Cemetery
Graniteville, S.C.

, M am a Senator Tommy Moore
a t M in n ie Patm ore School

Mama, Daddy, Charles, MeMi, Ms. Rose and Dot

Ribbon Cutting of street named A.P. Nivens

Mama in front of street sign named
in her honor

M innie Palmore School
Mama and Amy, one o f her long term employees

Tau Gamma Delta Sorority Inc and Mama

My Philosophy
I have hope and I do believe, that all children can learn and achieve. I f they are justgiven the chance to work a t their speed and to advance, we as Teachers must work and hope and help each child with his prob
, lems to cope. Byfin din g outfirst what makes him tick, then working and helping him with his problems
tofix. E rst a child must be happy with what he does he must have fa ith in him selfand he mustfeel loved. The teacher'sjob is to properly motivate and see that he succeeds in what he undertakes. It does not m at ter i f he is black or white. Every child can learn to read and write, because God gave every child a spe cialgift. He needs only to use it him self to lift. I have hope and will continue to believe, that i f the peace we hope fo r is to be achieved, all races on earth must lim it human strife and learn to live together fo r the rest o f their life. There are so many children here on earth that were unwanted and unloved from the time o f their birth we must in someway make them see that expressing his true feelings is no calamity some people are always asking me, why do I struggle fo r people and hear their cry. "Why do I undertake such thankless plight". My answer is this, ccGod gave me a task and a chance to free children from chains o f ignorance and fo r as long as I live and breathe, I will continue to help people achieve."
Pallbearers
Grandsons and nephews
Flower Bearers
Girl Scouts Current and Past
Acknowledgements
We the family would like to express our deepest appreciation to all o f you who have shown your love and adoration o f our mother in this most difficult time. Special thanks, to those special persons who assisted us in her care during the time o f her illness. May God Bless and keep each o f you.
The Nivens Family