Everee Jimerson Clarke, born on July 6, 1926, was a grandchild of Elisha Blackshear and Samuel Jimerson form the “Styx” on Palm Beach Island. She was the only daughter among six sons (Jesse, Emanuel, Rufus, Andrew, Herman, and Simieon) of the Reverend William and Cynthia Jimerson, Pioneers of Pleasant City, the Oldest African American Community in Palm Beach County.
Everee Jimerson Clarke, attended Industrial High School in West Palm Beach, now Roosevelt and the Historically Black Lincoln University at Jefferson City, Missouri and was one of the first African Americans to attend the Julliard School of Music Dance Department in New York City. She founded the Everee Clarke School of Charm and Dance in 1960 and Many of her students, male and female, have gone on to become outstanding professionals in Music (Dionne Warwick, Melba Moore), Art, Drama, Dance, Education, Business, and Government. She was a Beauty/Talent Pageant Writer/Coach/Production Director and Coordinator. More than 3000 young ladies and men have been trained in contest, beauty pageants and over 25,000 students at UNCF colleges participated in her Personal Development courses tour.
Everee Jimerson Clarke was the Founder/President of the Pleasant City Family Reunion Committee and Heritage Gallery, a Museum of African American History, Culture, and Research, honoring the Pioneers of Pleasant City. She was an avid collector of Ethnic History and Culture, has visited or studied most Historic Museums in the United States, Canada, and Europe. She has received many awards and much recognition including the Key to the City of West Palm Beach. She was a member of the Palm Beach County Historic Resources Board and was an award-winning author of “Pleasant City West Palm Beach”, a cookbook “Heritage Gallery Favorites”, and “From the Styx to Pleasant City”.
She has resiliently stood the test of time, from the Storm of '28, Jim Crow, The Civil Rights Movement and beyond to 95 years. She leaves to mourn her loving daughter, Frances Clarke and a host of beloved family and friends.
Bridging the Past with the Present
1930s-40s: Attended Industrial High School (WPB) & Stanton High (Jacksonville)
1944 Worked with Godfather, M.C. Bodie, Editor & Publisher of “Florida News”
1952-1954 One of the first African Americans to attend Julliard’s School of
1958-1959 Attended Ophelia De Vore’s School of Charm and Modeling
1960 Opened the Everee Clarke School of Dance & Modeling in Newark, NJ. which included students such as Dionne Warwick and Melba Moore.
1960 Successfully campaigned for the election of New Jersey State Assembly,
1960s Managed Fundraising efforts via “Pageants” for the NAACP, Urban League, WEDR& WPOM Radio Professional Black Firefighters,Speaker Les Brown, “Miss Black America”, The Sickle Cell Foundation, CORE, etc..
1963 (Aug. 28th) Integrated the Pennsylvania Hotel in West Palm Beach the same day as Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech
1964 - 1970 Trained Sit-In Activists of the Civil Rights Movement, Assisted in the first political campaign for the late Congressman Alcee Hastings and others.
1965 Opened the Everee Clarke School of Dance & Modeling in WBP, FL.
1968 - 1970 PB County School Board Instructor: Grades K-6 (Charm & Etiquette)
1969 - 1983 Exec. Director,of the National Business League’s Tri-County Chapter
1970 Attended Florida Atlantic University (Real Estate)
1971 Special Assistant to President Nixon via Southeast Regional Committee on Minority Affairs, which included increasing food quality programs at HBCUs.
1972 Integrated Royal Palm Cemetery after the passing of her daughter, Renee
1973 - 1974 Candidate for the West Palm Beach Commission
1975. 1976, 1987 Listed in Who’s Who Among Black Americans
1975 Special NASA invited guest at the historic launching of Apollo
1988 Appointed by Florida Governor Bob Martinez, to the Historic Broward County Preservation Board of Trustees
1992 Founder and President of the Pleasant City Family Reunion Committee Inc.
1994 Opened the Pleasant City Heritage Gallery honoring the “Pioneers”
2005 Became the published author of the book, Pleasant City, West Palm Beach
2006 Received March of Dimes Women of Distinction Award
2007 Appointed to the West Palm Beach Cultural Council by Mayor Lois Frankel
2012 Daughters of the American Revolution Award
2014 Appointed to the Palm Beach County Historic Resources Board by Commissioner Priscilla Taylor
2016 (90th Birthday) July 6th pronounced Everee Clarke Day in West Palm Beach, given Key to the City, and received Proclamation from Mayor Jeri Muioi, Ph.D
2020 Began steps to receive Historical Designation for the Pleasant City area
2016 - 2021 Wrote third book “From the Styx to Pleasant City”