Vera Shorter News Today

Nov. 25, 2020: Roy Gundersen, 89, Edgartown Roy embraced the Vineyard community. The Vineyard was his paradise. He joined the Edgartown Fire Department, was the head of Civil Defense, coached baseball, served on the board of the Council of Aging, and volunteered at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Nov. 28, 2020: Rosie Marie Davis, 93, Oak […]

The Marthas Vineyard Times To the Editor: Joining many expressing sorrow at the recent loss of longtime Vineyarder Vera Shorter, as we near town elections, I want to share an anecdote about this fine lady. Annually the M.V. League of Women Voters mails a springtime letter to a number of active Vineyarders. As the League member who sends written thanks to those responding, I can report that for many years Vera Shorter was among the first to respond to this appeal. She was indeed an e...

The Marthas Vineyard Times Vera Shorter died at her home on Martha’s Vineyard on Feb. 26, 2021, with her two daughters nearby. She was born in Huntington, Long Island, to Sue Hendrickson and Claude Groves in 1922, and had celebrated her 98th birthday in December with her 97-year-old friend Betty Dixon.  Her mother’s family lived on Long Island for over a hundred years, and were of Black American and Shinnecock stock. Her mother was a born musician, who with the help of her moth...

The Marthas Vineyard Times The Good Soles are good souls A group of women hikers reach out to help the elder community of Martha’s Vineyard. Vera Shorter, seated, and her daughter Beth enjoying the Christmas caroling. — Courtesy Naina Lassiter Williams Christmas caroling visit to Esther Hopkins, with grandson Tripp and son Ewell. — Kendall B. Reid Dorothy Underwood at her door enjoying the Good Soles Christmas carolers. — Courtesy Naina Lassiter Williams Gloria Wong enjoyin...

The Marthas Vineyard Times Martha’s Vineyard mourns loss of Vera Shorter, Herb Foster Both were civil rights icons on the Island. Vera Shorter was a pillar for social activism on Martha’s Vineyard and beyond. —Gabrielle Mannino The Island lost two of its leading and longtime civil rights advocates Saturday, Vera Shorter and Herb Foster. Shorter was born in 1923 in Huntington, Long Island. Shorter’s life was devoted to family, career, and civil rights advocacy in New York. Sh...