(Saturday, March 28, 2020) – The Reverend Joseph Lowery died Friday at his home in Atlanta surrounded by family members.  He was 98 years-old.

His death marks the passing of a civil rights icon whose life was rooted in championing the rights of others dating back more than half-a-century.  A close confidante to the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lowery fought to end segregation, lived to see the election of President Barack Obama, and was one of the nation’s most fiery preachers.

Lowery was on the front lines of the battle for equality and had a knack for cutting to the core of the country’s conscience with commentary steeped in scripture and truth.  Lowery refused to back or bow down to anyone whether a Jim crow racist or a U.S. president.

As a close aide to Dr. King, Lowery’s fiery Alabama preaching style often rivaled that of King.  “We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back; when brown can stick around; when yellow will be mellow; when the red man can get ahead; and when white will embrace what is right,” That was the prayer Lowery delivered at President Barack Obama’s 2009 inaugural benediction.