Jacksonville State University and Talladega College lost a dear friend on April 22 when Dr. Helen Bush Caver, who served as librarian at both schools, was killed in a car accident on Alabama 21 between Oxford and Talladega.

Talladega College held a memorial service for Dr. Caver on April 26. Her funeral was April 30 at Seventeenth Street Baptist Church in Anniston, with burial at Edgemont Cemetery.

Dr. Caver retired from JSU with 28 years’ service as librarian and associate professor. Following her retirement, she returned to Talladega College as director of Savery Library. Under her leadership, Savery Library’s holdings increased from 85,000 to more than 130,000 volumes. She also introduced an online library, including public access to the library’s catalog.

Dr. Caver’s first contact with Talladega College began when she attended the college for one year as a freshman. Caver went on to earn a bachelors degree from Miles College, a master’s degree from Atlanta University in 1969, and a doctorate from the University of Sarasota in 1989.

Dr. Caver, whose career as an educator spanned 50 years, was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including the Distinguished Black Woman Award from The Alabama Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Calhoun County Leadership Award. In addition to religious activities, she served her native Anniston, Calhoun County and the State of Alabama on the boards of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Anniston Museum of Natural History, the Alabama Public Library Service and the United Way.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Matthew Caver. Her survivors include: her son, Norville Caver; granddaughter, Conswaela Caver; brother, Melvin Coleman; uncle, Willie C. Bush; two god-sons: Roy A. Goodson and Gray O. Lewis; and a host of other relatives and friends.