【Apr. 16th, Huaren One Media, Reporting from Los Angeles】The city of Corona has officially announced to named a street in its newly developed community after Sallie Jeffreys. Mrs. Jeffreys is the grandma-in-law of Wai-Jen Jeffries , founding president of US Chinese Women Organization.
Margaret Pratt, Mrs. Huang’s aunt-in-law, grew up in Corona. According to her memory, the city of Corona and this new development in the south of the Riverside county used to be corn fields . Many people have contributed to the development of Corona and all of these are now etched into the history.
Just like many margaret pratt others, she recalled that her mother, Mrs. Sallie Jeffreys, had been devoted to making thie great city a better place for all. She feels felt very proud that a street has been named after Mrs. Jeffreys and , permanently acknowledges her contributions. This is the best recognition that Mrs. Jeffreys could have , she added.
As a family member and an Asian American, Wai-Jen Jeffries shared the same sentiments. Her late husband frequently reminisced about the life story of Sallie with her. He remembered Sallie as a steadfastly faithful Christian and a great philanthropist. When they moved their family from Oklahoma to Southern California, Sallie said that God had instructed her not to sell their land. Just a few years later, petroleum was found on the land. The family got shares of the oilfield and have benefited ever since.
Margaret Pratt added, than Sallie to the city of Corona focused on promoting religious and philanthropic affairs. She led the Four square Church of God for twenty-four years. In early 1930s, she purchased a piece of land on the South Avenue, where she built a new church in 1937. This building is still functioning as a church today. Sallie and her husband managed several successful businesses in Corona, which they used to finance the mortgage for constructing the church.
In addition to being an excellent preacher, Sallie was also a democratic leader of California. She regularly shared foods and her own clothing with those in need. The philanthropic contributions of her husband reached Mira Loma, Woodcrest, Home Gardens ,and Norco.
It has been many decades since Sallie and her husband passed away. Many of their deeds have faded from memory of the living souls. What Margaret recalls is merely a glimpse into a cherished life time of achievement. Naming a street after her is the best form of recognition that Sallie could receive from our city of Corona. We are all beneficiaries of our ancestors; they built America as it is for us today. We, Chinese Americans, will also continue to love our great nation, serve our community, and help our city to grow .
