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Civil Rights Activist Evelyn Lowery Dies

September 26th, 2013

Evelyn Lowery has died. She was the wife of the Reverend Joseph Lowery, a former president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But Mrs. Lowery was a civil rights icon in her own right.

She was born into a life of activism. Her father was a Methodist minister and led the Memphis NAACP chapter. In 1948, she married Joseph Lowery, also a Methodist preacher who would later join the burgeoning civil rights movement.

She was by his side in Birmingham and in Mobile and walked with her husband as he helped lead the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery.

Years later, Evelyn Lowery helped establish the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. The Center's CEO, Doug Shipman, told WABE, “She also knew a lot about history. So she would share stories of various things that had happened over the course of her life to us. So she was somebody who you liked being around and also learned a lot from being around.”

When Joseph Lowery became chair of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in the late 1970s, she established a sister organization, SCLC WOMEN, in her words, “to champion the rights of women, children, and families.”

Starting in 1987, Evelyn Lowery led an annual heritage tour to Alabama to show young people the sites of the civil rights movement. In a 2009 interview with WABE's Rose Scott, Mrs. Lowery said of the tours, “This is actively showing them whose shoulders they're standing on and challenging them to be responsible citizens, and as soon as they're able to vote, to do so.”

Her advocacy continued her whole life. Just this February, she spoke at an event to protest gender-based violence, telling the crowd, ”Women of all ages, now is the time for organization, legislation and mobilization. We must give the dignity to the women and girls of this world.”

Evelyn Lowery suffered a stroke September 18th and died early this morning. She was 88.

Rose Scott reports:

Civil rights activist Evelyn Lowery has died.

Along with her husband, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, she worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

And as WABE’s Rose Scott reports, Mrs. Lowery also made sure to advocate for disenfranchised women and children.

Rose Scott's audio as broadcast.

She never beckoned for the spotlight.

The daughter of a preacher and activist parents, Evelyn Lowery knew the importance of fighting for equal rights.

She and husband Rev. Joseph Lowery shared that cause throughout their 60 plus years of marriage.

In 1979, Evelyn Lowery founded the SCLC/Women’s Organizational Movement for Equality Now.

It was a counterpart to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference created by her husband and others.

She also created the Drum Major for Justice awards.

“Dr. King said to remember him as drum major for justice. And on his assassination date, we wanted to remember him and pay tribute to modern day drum majors who are attempting to make a commitment to their community.”

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin says Evelyn Lowery’s life was an example of how to help others.

“Her life is a foundation for all of us who want to America even better place for children, a better for women, and a better place for men and families. As we think about her, we should think about what we should be doing to continue her legacy.”

In 2009, I asked Mrs. Lowery why then, at the age of 84, she continued to lobby, march and speak up for those who may feel helpless.

She chuckled during her response.

“I’ve been doing it for so long, it’s in me. There are so many problems that exist, why sit down and forget about them.”

Evelyn Lowery suffered a stroke last week.

She died early Thursday at the age of 88.