According to a spokesperson for the Lowery family, Evelyn Lowery passed this morning at home at age 88, apparently from complications of a severe stroke she had last September .
According to the Augusta Chronicle
The Rev. Joseph Lowery, a former president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, says in a statement to The Associated Press that his wife was committed to service. Lowery says the family has been overwhelmed by continuous outpourings of love, support and prayers.
While she is most recognized as the wife of Rev Lowery, who lead the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 after the arrest of Rosa Parks and co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Dr. Martin Luther King, she is a leader in her own right.
In 1979, Evelyn Lowery founded SCLC/WOMEN, Inc , which has its headquarters in Atlanta Georgia
Mission Statement
SCLC/Women's Organizational Movement for Equality Now, Inc. (sclc/WOMEN, Inc.) offers intergenerational programs designed to empower women, girls and families as they relate to human rights, social action, economic self-sufficiency, reduction of health disparities, and leadership to build strong families and communities.
As someone who was three year old living in Connecticut when Dr. King was assassinated, I never knew the truly power and bravery embodied in the Civil Rights Movement until 1998, when I started doing home-based therapy in rural Georgia. In the midst of my culture shock, I had the privilege of meeting a person I call, "The Georgia Blues Man". He told stories of the marches he went to and how he still felt the repercussions stemming from his civil rights work. For confidentiality, I can't really give anymore details, but that is not the point anyway.
Rev Lowery had been schedule to participate in an event last year, and my daughter and I had been invited to go out for coffee with a group, which included Rev. Lowery. I was so excited that my 9 year old daughter would have the opportunity to hear about the Civil Rights movement from one of its leaders, since I knew the power of hearing the stories from someone who was there.
As we lose those who led the struggle for civil rights, as well as social and economic justice, we need to ensure today's children hear their stories, as many of the today issues echo from the struggles from more than five decades ago. May the leaders of tomorrow learn the lessons of those who walked before them.