Hundreds of people turned out Wednesday to celebrate the life of civil rights activist Evelyn Lowery who died last week at her marital home surrounded by family.
Mrs. Lowery, who was 88, was the wife of civil rights trailblazer Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, but also a leader in her own right. As founder and board chair of the SCLC Women’s Organizational Movement, Mrs. Lowery was not only an activist during the civil rights movement but a pioneer in women’s rights.
The service at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on Morehouse’s campus attracted many high-profile figures, including Al Sharpton, Christine King Farris, Mayor Kasim Reed and Joshua DuBois, a representative on behalf of President Obama.
“Evelyn didn’t care about being in the limelight; her reward was serving God and humanity,” said King Farris.
Bishop Woodie W. White, of Emory University and the chairman of the Lowery Institute for Justice & Human Rights, delivered the eulogy.
As well as songs from the 100-strong Central United Methodist Church Mass Choir, Tony and Grammy winner Jennifer Holliday performed at the funeral service.
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