Alvin Morris Pettus

Alvin Morris Pettus, 83, of Springfield, Virginia, died in his home, following an illness, on Sunday, February 23, 2025.

Alvin was born on July 13, 1941, in Baskerville, Virginia. The son of Willie Clay and Julia Moss Pettus, he was the fourth of eight children. Throughout his childhood, until he left for college, Alvin’s parents were tobacco sharecroppers. During his time on the farms, Alvin developed an early love for and fascination with the environment and animals (including snakes, much to the chagrin of his mother) that stayed with him throughout his life. His parents also instilled in him an appreciation for education and hard work that he later passed on to his own children. 

Alvin attended segregated schools in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, through high school. He earned a B.S. in Biology from St. Paul‘s College, a historically Black college in Lawrenceville, Virginia, where he was also president of the St. Paul’s chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. Following his graduation in 1962, he taught biology and general science in segregated schools in Danville, Virginia. He also co-sponsored the Science Club, Drama Club, and Future Teachers Club. In 1965, he was accepted into a master’s degree program for Science Education at the University of Virginia as part of one of the first classes of Black graduate students. After receiving his Master’s of Education and a brief stint working for the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) as an assistant supervisor of science, he was drafted into the United States Army and served from 1967 to 1969. He was as a lab technician at both Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland and the Ninth Medical Lab in Saigon, Vietnam. He returned to work for several years at VDOE before enrolling in a graduate education program at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, where he received his Doctorate of Education in Educational Supervision. He was a professor at Virginia Tech from 1974 to 1986. In 1986, he moved to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he was a Department Head and Professor of Secondary Education from 1986 to 1995, Coordinator of Secondary Education from 1995 to 1999, Assistant Director for the School of Education from 1999 to 2003, and Associate Dean for the College of Education from 2003 to 2005.

As early as the mid-1970s, Alvin published academic articles on environmental education and, in the 1990s, methodologies for teachers to more effectively work with increasingly multicultural student bodies. Outside of work, he served as the Education Section Editor for the Virginia Academy of Science’s Virginia Journal of Science; on the School Board for Harrisonburg City Public Schools, including chairing the board from 1994-1995; on a state advisory board on teacher education and licensure; as a member of the Harrisonburg Public Schools Charitable Foundation; and on the board of directors of Gemeinschaft Home, a transitional facility for adult non-violent offenders.

Alvin married Helene (Woody) Pettus, who he met at Virginia Tech, in June 1977. He was drawn to her optimistic and romantic outlook on life. He described her, in his own words, as “a consistent source of companionship, support, and love.” Together they had three daughters, Lana, Meta (Viers), and Tina (Herranen). Alvin was an amazing father – one of the qualities that drew Helene to him was his rapport with children. He played hair-barrette model, “patient,” dance instructor, chauffeur, editor, typist, illustrator, master gardener, bicycle instructor, basketball opponent, Shakespeare director, science fair project idea generator, award ceremony escort, auto maintenance guide, prom dress shopping consultant, home improvement demonstrator, comedy routine straight man, in-house naturalist, debate sparring partner, and creative method furniture-moving service all with aplomb. His somewhat less popular role as boundary-setter was balanced out by the consistent love and affection he demonstrated for his daughters every day.

In addition to his wife and daughters, Alvin is survived by his grandchildren Rio and Victor Viers and Amara Herranen, sons-in-law Borislav Komarovskiy, Dana Viers, and Jon Herranen, his brother W. Clinton Pettus (Kathryn), and sisters Bertha Pettus, Beulah Pettus, and Shirley McAllister (James), and 10 nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brother Kermit L. Pettus and sisters Barbara Brown and Bernita Coleman.

A celebration of Alvin’s life will be held at the Cunningham Turch Funeral Home at 811 Cameron Street, Alexandria, Virginia, on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, http://www.michaeljfox.org, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163. Condolences for the family may be offered at http://www.CunninghamFuneralHome.net

The service will be live streamed on Zoom.  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82147063601?pwd=gbHUEb37n7ZHtbEwAcCQSUsv2dzc45.1

Meeting ID  821 4706 3601     Passcode Cunningham