Eastern Michigan Athletics
E-Club Hall of Fame Member Wondella Devers Passes Away
1/23/2024 1:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Women's Track & Field, E-Club
Devers was an EMU as a women's basketball and track & field student-athlete
More Information.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University E-Club Hall of Famer Wondella Devers passed away Monday, Jan. 15, at the age of 71. Devers, who was inducted into the E-Club Hall of Fame in 2013, was a women's basketball and track & field athlete.
Devers was an educator, champion of women's rights, and a civil rights activist.
From 1966-69, she played basketball and ran track for Belleville High School. In 1969, joined the women's basketball team at Washtenaw Community College and then was an EMU women's basketball and track & field athlete from 1971-73. At EMU, won two first place honors in the high jump and played on a third place women's basketball team. From 1971-82 was an MHSAA Referee and Game Official.
After graduating, spent 31 years as a physical education and math teacher for the Van Buren Public Schools, retiring in 2005. In 2000, received a varsity letter from EMU honoring her years as an EMU athlete before women's teams were recognized at the collegiate level.
In 2012, joined the Michigan Spirits Women's Senior Basketball Team representing the State of Michigan at the National Games, winning a Gold Medal at the Cleveland Games, and a Bronze medal at the Huntingsman Games in their first year. In 2013, the Michigan Spirits received a Bronze medal at the Cleveland Games.
She was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Hattie Mae Devers; brother, Darnell Devers; maternal grandparents, Isiah and Addie Mae Simmons; fraternal grandparents, Fred and Viola Devers. Wondella is survived by her father, Wendell Devers; sister, Jill Devers; partner, Cheryl Borden; God-sister, Audria (Mark) Mitchell; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends and neighbors.
Private cremation services have taken place.
In lieu of flowers, donations will support the Rogel Cancer Center Pancreatic Cancer Program Fund at the University of Michigan. Checks may be made payable to "University of Michigan" and sent to 777 E. Eisenhower Pkwy., Suite 650, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Please include "in memory of Wondella Devers" in the memo line of the check or in an attached note. You may also call 734-764-6777 or visit the following link to make your gift https://victors.us/wondelladevers.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University E-Club Hall of Famer Wondella Devers passed away Monday, Jan. 15, at the age of 71. Devers, who was inducted into the E-Club Hall of Fame in 2013, was a women's basketball and track & field athlete.
Devers was an educator, champion of women's rights, and a civil rights activist.
From 1966-69, she played basketball and ran track for Belleville High School. In 1969, joined the women's basketball team at Washtenaw Community College and then was an EMU women's basketball and track & field athlete from 1971-73. At EMU, won two first place honors in the high jump and played on a third place women's basketball team. From 1971-82 was an MHSAA Referee and Game Official.
After graduating, spent 31 years as a physical education and math teacher for the Van Buren Public Schools, retiring in 2005. In 2000, received a varsity letter from EMU honoring her years as an EMU athlete before women's teams were recognized at the collegiate level.
In 2012, joined the Michigan Spirits Women's Senior Basketball Team representing the State of Michigan at the National Games, winning a Gold Medal at the Cleveland Games, and a Bronze medal at the Huntingsman Games in their first year. In 2013, the Michigan Spirits received a Bronze medal at the Cleveland Games.
She was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Hattie Mae Devers; brother, Darnell Devers; maternal grandparents, Isiah and Addie Mae Simmons; fraternal grandparents, Fred and Viola Devers. Wondella is survived by her father, Wendell Devers; sister, Jill Devers; partner, Cheryl Borden; God-sister, Audria (Mark) Mitchell; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends and neighbors.
Private cremation services have taken place.
In lieu of flowers, donations will support the Rogel Cancer Center Pancreatic Cancer Program Fund at the University of Michigan. Checks may be made payable to "University of Michigan" and sent to 777 E. Eisenhower Pkwy., Suite 650, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Please include "in memory of Wondella Devers" in the memo line of the check or in an attached note. You may also call 734-764-6777 or visit the following link to make your gift https://victors.us/wondelladevers.
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