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Edith Savage-Jennings

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Edith Savage-Jennings
Edith Savage-Jennings speaking in the 2017 Women's March in Trenton, New Jersey
Born
Edith Mae Savage

( 1924-03-17 ) March 17, 1924
Jacksonville, Florida , U.S.
Died November 12, 2017 (2017-11-12) (aged 93)
Trenton, New Jersey , U.S.
Known for Activist
Spouse C. Donald Jennings (1993-2011; his death)

Edith Mae Savage-Jennings (March 17, 1924 ? November 12, 2017) was an American civil rights leader from New Jersey . She was known for her association with civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

She was notable for being a guest to the White House under every president of the United States from Franklin D. Roosevelt through Barack Obama . She was inducted into the New Jersey Women's Hall of Fame in 2011.

Early life [ edit ]

Savage was born in 1924 at Jacksonville, Florida , [1] [2] one of six children in her family. [2] Her parents died when she was two years old. [3] Following the death of her parents, Savage and her siblings went to live with her aunt, who moved the family to New Jersey. [2]

At age 10, Savage met First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt when she was selected to hand the First Lady flowers on behalf of the New Jersey State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs. [4] Although told not to say anything, Savage thanked Roosevelt which led to the two becoming pen pals for the remainder of Roosevelt's life. [4] [5]

At 12 years old, she joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). [6]

Civil rights leader [ edit ]

At only 13 years old, Savage helped to integrate the Capital Theater in Trenton, New Jersey , when she refused to sit in the balcony, which was the designated seating area for blacks. [4] [5] Savage's first job was in the sheriff's office, where she continued to speak out against discrimination. [5]

In 1957, while Savage was raising funds for King's Southern Leadership Conference, she was introduced to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. [7] King and his wife, Coretta Scott King , became Savage's close friends. [5] After Martin's death, Savage worked with Coretta to found the King Center. [7]

In 1964, Savage and then first lady of New Jersey Helen Meyner went on a presidential mission to integrate a school in Mississippi. Savage and Meyner met with local women in an effort to convince the locals to allow for the school to be integrated peacefully. [8] Later that same year, she organized the New Jersey Democratic Coalition. [9]

In 2017, she was a keynote speaker at the Women's March in Trenton. [10]

Other activities [ edit ]

Savage was the coordinator of the Mid-Atlantic States Poor People's Campaign of SCLC in 1968. [10] President Jimmy Carter appointed her as a U.S. Delegate at the World Women’s Conference in Houston, Texas , in 1977. [9]

Besides promoting civil rights, Savage wanted to combat problems in the African-American community through education. [3] She believed the importance of parenting and mentoring to give children role models. [9]

Personal life [ edit ]

On October 28, 1993, Savage married C. Donald Jennings. [10] Rosa Parks attended the wedding and Coretta Scott King served as maid of honor. Her husband died on June 19, 2011, at age 94. [11]

Death [ edit ]

Savage died on November 12, 2017, at her home in Trenton, New Jersey , at the age of 93. [10]

Awards and honors [ edit ]

Savage received more than 100 awards and honors for her work in Civil Rights. [6] She was inducted into the New Jersey Women's Hall of Fame in 2011. [9] The city of Trenton proclaimed February 19, 2016, as Edith Savage-Jennings Day. [6]

Savage was a guest to the White House under every president of the United States from Franklin Delano Roosevelt through Barack Obama . [4] [9] [2]

References [ edit ]

  1. ^ "Edith Savage-Jennings - View Obituary & Service Information" . Edith Savage-Jennings Obituary . Retrieved November 17, 2017 .
  2. ^ a b c d Mulvaney, Nicole (June 27, 2014). "Edith Savage-Jennings honored by Brooklyn human rights organization, museum renamed for her" . NJ.com . Retrieved July 22, 2016 .
  3. ^ a b "N.J. civil rights leader, friend of MLK, guest of U.S. presidents dies at 93" . NJ.com. November 13, 2017 . Retrieved November 13, 2017 .
  4. ^ a b c d Rojas, Christina (February 18, 2016). "N.J. civil rights leader, friend of MLK gets her own day" . NJ.com . Retrieved July 17, 2017 .
  5. ^ a b c d Rojas, Christina (April 15, 2014). "Edith Savage-Jennings, civil rights activist who knew Martin Luther King Jr., speaks at TCNJ" . NJ.com . Retrieved July 21, 2016 .
  6. ^ a b c Parker, L.A. (February 20, 2016). "L.A. PARKER: Edith Savage-Jennings honored as living civil rights icon by Trenton" . The Trentonian . Retrieved July 17, 2016 .
  7. ^ a b "Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey" (PDF) . Rutgers University. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2017 . Retrieved November 13, 2017 .
  8. ^ Pizzi, Jenna (February 14, 2015). "Civil rights leader Edith Savage Jennings: Parent engagement and education is the solution" . NJ.com . Retrieved July 17, 2016 .
  9. ^ a b c d e "Edith Savage Jennings (Class of 2011): Civil Rights Icon" . New Jersey Women's Hall of Fame. January 7, 2016. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016 . Retrieved July 19, 2016 . {{ cite web }} : CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ( link )
  10. ^ a b c d "Civil rights icon Edith Savage-Jennings dies" . Trentonian. November 13, 2017 . Retrieved November 13, 2017 .
  11. ^ "C. Donald Jennings's Obituary on The Trentonian" . The Trentonian . Retrieved July 17, 2016 .

External links [ edit ]

Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edith_Savage-Jennings&oldid=1229703447 "