St. Louis icon Anita Lyons Bond passes Friday

Heroism involves going forward in the uncertain times. It means bravely forging a
path that few if any have dared to tread. It means doing what is right, rather than
what is convention. Anita Lyons Bond knew all about this sort of bravery. She was
a lifelong community leader, civil and human rights advocate, and champion for
education for all.

Anita Grace Lyons was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 6, 1930, to Alvin and
Beatrice Lyons. She was the eldest of six children. Anita married Leslie Fee Bond,
and they had three children: Leslie Jr., Erik, and Candace.

After graduating from Sumner High School with honors at the age of 15 as
valedictorian, Anita Lyons enrolled at St. Louis University in 1946, eight years
before the civil rights movement officially began in 1954, nine years before Rosa
Parks sat down on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955, and 17 years before the
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood up before the Lincoln Memorial, telling
an enraptured crowd of 200,000 “I have a dream” in 1963. 

Anita’s St. Louis University education came just two years after St. Louis
University changed its admission policy to integrate the university in response to a
homily delivered by Claude Heithaus, S. J. “In the world of scholarship there is
neither white nor black, brown or yellow.” According to the St. Louis Post
Dispatch, to fully understand the latitude of Mrs. Bond‘s triumph, one must
consider the circumstances during the times in which she entered St. Louis
University.

After graduation, Anita Lyons then studied in Mexico and in Norway on a Ralph Bunche Fellowship and earned her masters degree from Washington University. U.S. Vice President Lyndon Johnson appointed her to the President‘s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity.

In 1950, Anita Lyons earned her bachelor of science degree and became the first
female African-American at St. Louis University admitted into three societies: Pi
Lambda Theta, the National Jesuit Honor Society, and Gamma Phi Epsilon now
known as Alpha Sigma Nu. She was also the first African American student to
graduate from St. Louis University with honors (Magna Cum Laude); Anita Lyons
saw herself as an agent for change.

After graduation, Anita Lyons then studied in Mexico and in Norway on a Ralph
Bunche Fellowship and earned her masters degree from Washington University.
U.S. Vice President Lyndon Johnson appointed her to the President‘s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. As a member of the Missouri Citizens Advisory
Committee, she was a delegate to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. 

In 1965, Anita Lyons Bond challenged the Missouri Board of Education’s
elections. Her lawsuit, contending civil rights violations, went to the state Supreme
Court and ultimately resulted in changes in election procedures. Later that year, the
Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis honored her with their distinguished
Public Service Award for her service to the city as a leader in education in the
community. She established the Citizens Education Task Force, an organization
funded through the Danforth Foundation that functioned as an independent critical
body of the Board of Education.

The St. Louis Globe Democrat newspaper honored Anita Lyons Bond as a Woman
of Achievement in Human Relations in 1968. In 1974, she was elected President of
the St. Louis Board of Education where she served the board in various
roles. Anita Bond was also was instrumental in the Board of Education
Council establishing Harris Stowe as a state college rather than a secondary school.

In 1981, Federal Judge James Meredith appointed Anita Lyons Bond to serve on
the committee that wrote the St. Louis Public Schools desegregation plan. She also
served on the board of the YMCA, NAACP (National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People), NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Urban League,
United Negro College Fund and others. The NAACP named her one of the city’s
most outstanding St. Louisans. 

In 2014, Anita Bond was honored as a St. Louis Pioneer in Leadership and as an
extraordinary African American Trailblazer by the Royal Vagabonds
Foundation. At the ceremony, she was lauded as a civil rights icon. 
For her extraordinary determination, her exemplary character, her exceptional
commitment to education, her concern for others, her fearless focus on social
justice, and for her desire to provide equal access to education for all students,
Anita Bond was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Humanities,
honoris causa by St. Louis University on May 16, 2015.

Mrs. Bond lectured on the topic of Black Studies at St. Louis University,
Fontbonne College, Maryville College, and many other community groups and
institutions. She was affiliated with the St. Louis City Plan Commission, Health
and Welfare Council Human Development Corporation, NAACP, National
Support Committee of Y.W.C.A., Panel of American Women, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Jack and Jill of America, Inc., National Black Parents Organization; St.
Louis Zoo Commission, and Education Commission National Coalition.
In addition to her affiliations, she also worked as a consultant to the Washington
Office of Head Start.

Anita Lyons Bond was a lifelong member of Central Baptist Church and the Sisters
of Ruth Guild. She was a member of The St. Louis Links, Inc., Mound City
Medical Auxiliary, co-founded the St. Louis chapter of National Smart Set, Inc.,
and the St. Louis Chapter of Girl Friends, Inc. She also served as an active member
of Jack and Jill, Inc. and held a national office.

Family matriarch Anita Lyons Bond is survived by her son Leslie F. Bond, Jr.,
daughter Candace Bond McKeever and husband Steven McKeever; grandchildren
Noelle Bond, Brent McKeever and Maddox McKeever; siblings, Yvonne Lyons
Turner, Brenda Lyons Kennedy, Vennie Lyons, Sr. (Mary), brother-in-law Steven
Clark, Sr., and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, goddaughters, godsons, friends
and extended family. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Leslie F.
Bond, Sr., MD., her parents Alvin and Beatrice Lyons, son, Eric Lyons Bond,
sisters Shirley Lyons Clark and Vivian Lyons Williams.

Mrs. Anita Grace Lyons Bond was a fearless proponent of equal rights, arts
and education, political and criminal justice, church and family. “Her strong voice
and sweet spirit will remain etched in our hearts forever,” stated her family.

Memorial services for Anita L. Bond will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Central Baptist Church, 2842 Washington Ave., St. Louis, Missouri, 63103, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the Bond family requests that memorial
contributions be made to:
 

Erik L. Bond ’77 Memorial Financial Aid Fund
MICDS
Development Office
101 N. Warson Road
St. Louis, MO 63124