LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL

St. Gregory the Great Parish School         

Dear Parents,

God has called home a very special member of our school staff here at St. Gregory’s.   Mrs. Effie Littlejohn passed from this life on Wednesday, February 13^th.

Mrs. Littlejohn grew up in South Carolina, the oldest of nine children in her family.  She came to Cleveland with her husband and their son, Wayne, in the 1950’s.  They were members of St. Louis Catholic Church.

Mrs. Littlejohn had nieces and nephews who were students at St. Gregory’s:  Raford T. Odom, Keiyana T. Odom, Gilbert Brisco, Brittoni Brisco, Raven Brisco, and Jasmine Hammons.  Her niece Debra R. Odom was a member of the lunch monitor staff.  Mrs. Littlejohn joined the staff at St. Gregory’s after her husband’s death in 1993.

Arriving before the lunch hour each day, Mrs. Littlejohn greeted other staff members and visitors as they arrived at the school.  She shared stories often about her family and her neighbors.  Often the stories included baking or preparing a meal.  She spoke with gratitude of her family, her church, and her friends. 

With her calm and quiet manner, Mrs. Littlejohn made certain that the children in her care were safe.  She held high expectations for their behavior, and made her expectations clear.  She took every opportunity to teach children how to solve a problem or resolve a conflict.  She often reminded older students of their responsibility to set a good example.

Mrs. Littlejohn will be remembered here at St. Gregory’s as a person who spoke with patience and with love, whose smile reflected peace and joy, whose manner was filled with dignity, warmth, and gentleness.  We were richly blessed by her wise and loving spirit.  She will be missed greatly by all of us at St. Gregory’s.

Peter Wilson
Principal