Judge Viola J. Taliaferro

Viola was born in Campbell County, Virginia in 1928. She was the youngest of the eight children of Mary C. Jones, a homemaker, and Richard H. Jones, Sr., a farmer and a dog trainer. Early on she displayed some of the characteristics that those who met her as an adult would immediately associate with her – superior intellect, persistence, humility, integrity, strategic thinking, and a sense of fairness. She also was always in motion but with a purpose. She graduated from high school at 14 years old and enrolled at Virginia State College (now Virginia State University), where two of her brothers attended after World War II. In 1947, she graduated from Virginia State at 19 years old. Next, she worked first at Tuskegee Institute in the admissions office and then at the Howard University Medical School. Then she met George Taliaferro, who became a professional football player after a spectacular collegiate career at Indiana University. His professional career in the NFL, where he was a trailblazer, was equally amazing. Marriage and four children followed. As did the moving associated with a professional sports career. In 1954, the family moved to Baltimore Maryland, where he was playing for the Baltimore Colts. In Baltimore, Vi started working for the Baltimore Department of Welfare. She also started classes at Morgan State University, where she earned a teaching certificate. For the next seven years she worked, first as a teacher and then as an administrator, in the Baltimore Public School system. Concurrently, she attended Johns Hopkins University, where she earned a Master of Liberal Arts degree in 1969. In 1972, the family moved to Bloomington, Indiana, where George began a distinguished career at the University. Vi also began her next career. She entered the Indiana University School of Law. In 1977, after graduating from law school, she opened her own firm focusing on family law and criminal law cases. In 1989, she was appointed a magistrate in the Monroe County Circuit Court. In 1995, she was appointed a Monroe County Circuit Court VII judge. She was the first black person appointed as a judge to serve on the Monroe County Circuit Court. Her focus was paternity, probate, mental health commitment, and juvenile cases. She retired in 2004. Vi was recognized by her peers as a leading contributor to the law dealing with children’s rights. Consistent with her reputation in that field, the Indiana University School of Law named its Family and Children Mediation Clinic after her. In addition, the Indiana State Bar named an award after her – the Viola J. Taliaferro Award - that is presented to an individual or group for their extraordinary efforts on behalf of children. Over the course of her life Vi received many awards and accolades for her work in her professional life and for her work in the community. Among those are the following: She was given the Indiana University Distinguished Alumni Award, she served on the National Research Council on Juvenile Crime, and she was elected to the prestigious American Law Institute. A life well lived. She will be missed but not forgotten. She is survived by her daughters Linda, Reneé, Donna, and Terri, her grandchildren, Ryan, Micah, Joel, Loren, Raimond, Danielle and Laura, her great-grandchildren, Zoe and Audrina, numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and her oldest and dearest friend Rebecca (Becky) Griffin. Rest in peace. A homegoing celebration service will be held at 6:00pm Monday, June 19, 2023 at the Allen Funeral Home 4155 S. Old St Rd 37 Bloomington. With T. Michael Ford officiating. A visitation will be held from 4:00pm to service time Monday June 19, 2023 also at the funeral home. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory have been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com

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Judge Viola J. Taliaferro

September 13, 1928 - June 11, 2023