Claudia Ann Caldwell

In Celebration of Claudia Ann Caldwell

Today, we dedicate our memory to Claudia Ann Caldwell who enlightened lives and made lasting changes to those who entered her life.

Caldwell was born on April 16, 1945 in Boulder, Colo.  She moved to Oakland, Calif. When she was six months old with her family so her father could complete his college education.

In 1955, the family moved to San Diego after her father was appointed manager of the district office for Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Co. As time went by, Caldwell would attend Vernon Junior High School and later graduate from Los Angeles High School. Through heavy influence from her grandparents and her mother, she would gain an interest in politics and civil rights.

In the 1960’s, Caldwell worked as a counselor for Teen Post. In 1965, while attending community college, she went to Atlanta with her mother to participate in the Summer Community Voting Project. The experience took her through six southern states and 20 counties, registering voters, meeting other students and civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

She would go on to attend California State University, Los Angeles and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. Caldwell would also earn her master’s degree in social work from Columbia University.

In 1975, she worked as a social worker with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. One of the highlights of her 35-year career was being chosen to accompany wards of the court to Switzerland to testify before the United Nations.

Caldwell would meet and marry Robert Earl Caldwell in 1980. From this union, they had one son, Robert Earl Jr. Her husband passed away in 2008.

After a brief illness, Caldwell passed away on April 27. She was 66. She leaves behind her mother, son, sister and a host of family and friends.

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