Joe Louis' sister dies outside Southfield (Michigan) apartment complex

[TahitiNut]

SOUTHFIELD -- The 92-year-old sister of legendary boxer Joe Louis apparently collapsed and died of hypothermia outside a Southfield apartment complex Monday morning, authorities said today.

Vunies High, who had Alzheimer's disease, was found lying in her pajamas outside her apartment complex on Civic Center Drive around 10:30 a.m. by staff workers who had been looking for the woman. She was carried back inside the building and emergency calls were made, Southfield Fire Battalion Chief Barry Savickas said.

<snip>

High was born of Alabama sharecroppers and was the youngest of eight children, including her famous brother whose real name was Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. She graduated from Detroit Cass Tech High School, obtained degrees from both Howard University and University of Michigan and spent 23 years teaching and counseling in Detroit Public Schools.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080219/METRO/802190426/1361

:cry:

[Mabus]

1. That's so sad

:cry:

My husband and I are boxing fans. We've watched a number of Louis fights on ESPN Sports Classic channel.

[annabanana]

2. That's sad.

I doubt she deserved that end.

[TahitiNut]

3. Can you IMAGINE? ... the daughter of sharecroppers, black, in the Depression ...

... earning college degrees from Howard and UofM? Female. Black. The Depression. Alabama sharecroppers. Youngest of EIGHT children. (My father went to Cass Technical High School at about the same time she did.)

:wow: :wow:

[Bozita]

7. Cass Tech -- Getting in there might have been tougher than Howard or Umich ...

... during the First Great Depression.

[TahitiNut]

10. From what I was told, it was quite the accomplishment

It was a kind of "scholarship" I'm told ... books and transportation (bus passes) paid. City high schools were very healthy and active and Cass Tech was the top of the heap with kids from the entire country trying to get admitted.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

4. K&R

RIP

[AlphaCentauri]

5. .

[Gemini Cat]

6. RIP

:cry:

kick.

[knitter4democracy]

8. Oh no! That's terrible!

We've lost a few people in similar ways on our side of the state, too. Last night was bitterly cold, though. What a horrible, horrible thing. :(

[Octafish]

9. Heartbreaking.

My heart goes out to her family, friends and colleagues in the DPS.

Every day, it becomes clearer that this is not the United States of America.

And to think her brother beat Hitler's best.

[MilesColtrane]

11. My condolences to Mr. Scorpio and his family. n/t