Myrlie Evers-Williams was born in Vicksburg in 1933. Her life became a symbol of resilience, perseverance, and leadership in the long struggle for civil rights.

Carrying Medgar’s Legacy
In 1963, her husband, Medgar Evers, was assassinated in Jackson for his work as Mississippi’s NAACP field secretary. Though devastated, Myrlie refused to let his death silence their mission.

From Widow to National Leader
She became one of the most powerful voices for justice, ultimately serving as the first woman to chair the NAACP (1995–1998). Under her leadership, the organization stabilized and regained its national voice (NPS).

A Continuing Force for Freedom
Evers-Williams went on to write books, give speeches, and advocate for voting rights, women’s rights, and racial reconciliation. In 2013, she delivered the invocation at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration.

Her story shows that legacies are not just inherited — they are actively carried forward.