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Obituary

Anna Williams Shavers

February 12, 1946 - January 22, 2022

Anna Williams Shavers, 75 years old, passed away on January 22nd in Lincoln, Nebraska.

 

A beloved member of the UNL community and the Cline Williams Professor of Citizenship Law and Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, she was a light in the world. Incredibly kind, funny, and smart, Anna Shavers was a tireless advocate for inclusion and justice.

She was born in Little Rock, Arkansas where she later was a member of a small group of African American students selected to be the first to integrate Little Rock’s Hall High School. She went on to receive an M.S. in Business from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and her Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota. She was also active with the American Bar Association and was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Anna loved music, dancing, and movies. She also loved to travel. She was able to travel around the world and taught law classes in places such as Lithuania, Uganda and Cambridge, England. She always said that teaching law was her dream profession and she truly loved it. Anna was a wonderful, supportive, and loving mother and wife who brought joy to all who knew her.

She is survived by her husband Stanley Shavers; daughter Amber Shavers; sister Dollie Jones; sister-in-law Sammie Holmes; nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 25th from 5pm-7pm at Roper & Sons, 4300 O Street, Lincoln, NE.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Thursday, January 27th at 5pm at the UNL Law College, East Campus, Lincoln, NE.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Anna Shavers Scholarship Fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation, 1010 Lincoln Mall, Lincoln, NE, 68508 or search for the fund at nufoundation.org.

Services

January25

Visitation

Roper & Sons Midtown Chapel

4300 O St.
Lincoln, NE 68510

(402) 476-1225
January27

Celebration of Life

UNL Law College

East Campus, Lincoln, NE

Share a Memory or Condolence

March 30, 2023

I have just come across Anna’s writing on The Impact of Technology on Legal Education. Some people come to this life to be a guiding light to the ones coming right behind them, I am grateful for her foresight, and for her kindness in sharing what I believe is foundational to the improvement of legal education.

– Kerry Anakwenze
January 28, 2022

My deepest condolences to Stanley, Amber, and other family. Anna was a wonderful friend; always willing to help with so many causes. I fondly remember our trip to Namibia with the Grassland Foundation and WWF. She will be greatly missed.

– Tyler Sutton (Class of 83)
January 28, 2022

My condolences to Stan, Amber, and family on the loss of your dear Anna. May her bright light shine forever in your hearts! Anna was accomplished in the field of law, a wonderful colleague, and compassionate friend. I will miss her.

– Gwendolyn Combs
January 27, 2022

I remember with great fondness Professor Shavers’ warm personality and hearty laughter. May loving memories bring comfort now and in the days to come.

– Valencia Davis (Class of 2002)
January 27, 2022

Heartfelt condolences to Anna’s family and friends from the Nebraska Family Alliance team. I personally enjoyed working with Anna for several years on the anti-trafficking panel conference. Her ability to communicate directly and commpassionate tone was always an inspiration. She will be greatly missed

– Karen Bowling
January 27, 2022

My deepest condolences to Professor Shavers’ family. She was a brilliant, warm, kind woman with a great sense of humor. I remember her always smiling. I took ALL the classes she taught, because I loved her teaching and loved her. Thank you for sharing her with us, her students. We will always remember her fondly.

– Fran (Brunner) Oleen, UNL Law ‘95
January 26, 2022

Anna was a very special colleague and friend when she arrived at UNL and joined me in the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, of which I was an active member from 1979 through 2019, when I retired as an English and WGS professor. Her pioneering role cannot be overstated, from her entry at Little Rock High School through her profound impact on the UNL Law School. Anna defined the meaning of grace under pressure, and I will carry her memory with me forever. I send you my deepest condolences.

– Maureen Honey Professor Emeritus of English and Women’s and Gender Studies UNL mhoney@unl.edu
January 26, 2022

My deepest to condolences to Dr. Shavers family and all who knew and loved her. I feel very lucky to have had a chance to get to know her during my first 7 months here, and so wish her wisdom and quest for justice could have graced us for much longer.

– Claire Stewart, Dean of Libraries, UNL
January 26, 2022

I still remember my first day with Professor Shavers. She was ever so strong and caring, always giving her best in everything she did. Her kind words, wisdom and knowledge will never be forgotten. Thank you for everything you have done for us.

– Jai H. Kim, Class of 2006
January 26, 2022

My deepest condolences to the family of Professor Shavers. I had the honor of having her as one of my 1L professors and really enjoyed her class. She had a wonderful teaching style. She will be missed.

– Indhira LaPuma ‘05
January 26, 2022

I am so very sorry that Anna is no longer with us. I was the first MLS (Masters in Legal Studies) student at UNL. I was lucky enough to have her for Administrative Law during one of her first years on staff. I enjoyed talking with her whenever our paths crossed. She was an accomplished woman who lived a very interesting and productive life.

– Dorothy C. Anderson
January 25, 2022

Anna was a wonderful mentor to me and played a crucial role in my development as a legal scholar. I will miss her, and the legal academy has lost one of its guiding lights.

– Jill Family

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