Josephine Shaddock

Josephine Louise Shaddock was born in Boston, MA on October 22, 1938, the third child of the late Woodrow B. and Lillian L. Corbin.

Josie, (Mummy to her children, Aunt Josie to her many nieces and nephews and “Gma” to her grandchildren, and Joco Topani on social media), attended Boston Public Schools, graduating from Girl’s High School. Education was very important to her, and she brought up her five children to appreciate and seek out educational opportunities as a pathway to success and knowledge. She practiced what she preached and earned her M. ED from Antioch College at middle age.

Josie retired from Simmons College in 2012 where she was the Director of Student Support Services. While at Simmons, she directed a number of initiatives in support of students and was well-loved by the student body, some of whom kept in touch with her long after graduation.

She was very active in her community, particularly around issues related to education for underrepresented students and she was a longtime resident board member at the Warren Gardens development in Roxbury where her children were raised.

Josie loved music and the theatre, and she loved to travel often, all traits that she instilled in her children. During her lifetime, she traveled to the majority of the states in the U.S., and she was an avid international traveler, including St Thomas, Mexico, The Netherlands, Iceland, Canada and Germany. On road trips, she preferred to do the driving because she loved to drive.

Many people may not know that Josie joined her sister Charlotte, a member of the popular group, the Tune Weavers, for a once in a lifetime opportunity performing on the legendary Apollo stage in Harlem singing the Tune Weavers hit record “Happy Birthday Baby" which topped the charts in the

1950’s. She was also an accomplished drum majorette and was an expert baton twirler who could also play the drums.

Josie was predeceased by her loving daughter, Kimberly and her husband, Edward L. Shaddock Sr. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her children, Dianne (Shaddock) Austin, Pamela Shaddock, Edward Shaddock Jr., and Christopher Shaddock, her sisters, Charlotte Rose, (Bobby), Carolyn McCloud (James), sisters in laws Barbara Jean Culbreath, Marie Corbin, (Larry, deceased), Rebecca Shaddock, (Colonel, deceased). She was predeceased by her brother, Larry Corbin, sister and brother law, Lois and Charles Shaddock and brother-in-law Colonel Shaddock). She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Christopher (Shaddock) Meadows, Edward L. Shaddock, III, Nicole Bush, Paige Taylor Austin, Anya Shaddock, Kaleb Shaddock and Alvar Shaddock.

Family was extremely important to her be it immediate or extended family. She leaves to cherish her memory scores of nieces, (many of whom always told her that they were the ones who was her favorite niece), nephews and cousins.

It is truly an understatement to say that she will be sorely missed by so many. We love you and you will live on through all of us. Rest in peace and love.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the National Kidney Foundation of New England in the name of Josephine Shaddock and in honor of her journey and her memory: https://www.kidney.org/offices/nkf-serving-new-england

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.