Jo Ann Allen Boyce, Clinton 12 Member and Civil Rights Pioneer, Dies at 84

Jo Ann Allen Boyce, Member of Clinton 12, Passes Away at 84

Jo Ann Crozier Allen Boyce, recognized as one of the historic Clinton 12 who desegregated the first public high school in the southern United States, has died. The Green McAdoo Cultural Center officially announced her passing on Wednesday, sending condolences to her family.

Born on September 15 in Clinton, Allen Boyce was part of a vital moment in civil rights history. In August, she and 11 classmates became the first Black students to integrate into Clinton High School following a court-ordered desegregation.

Her early education took place at Green McAdoo Elementary, a small segregated school with limited resources. Before joining Clinton High School, she attended Austin High School for her first year of high school, prior to the landmark desegregation.

Allen Boyce recounted the turbulent challenges she faced during that period. She described the intense hostility and discrimination from the community, saying it was the most painful experience of her life. The daily harassment in and around the school led her to leave Clinton High after just five months.

In December, she relocated to California where she completed her education at Dorsey High School. She pursued a career in nursing lasting over 40 years. She married Victor E. Boyce and raised three children, later becoming a grandmother.

Her legacy is also known through her grandson, Cameron Boyce, a popular actor who portrayed her story and that of the Clinton 12 in a Disney Channel series. This project helped educate younger generations about their groundbreaking role in desegregation.

In October, Allen Boyce returned to Clinton for the 63rd anniversary of integration. She encouraged students to embrace friendship and unity, contrasting her own difficult experience during the era of segregation.

The Green McAdoo Cultural Center praised her generosity and humility, recalling how she inspired many by sharing her story across the country. Her contributions remain an important chapter in the ongoing civil rights narrative.