She is quiet and demure in stature, but she’s a “superwoman,” according to her 10 children whom she raised with her husband, the late and renowned comedian, civil and human rights activist and health advocate Dick Gregory, who died August 2017. And sometimes, when money was short and he turned down a protest to accept a paying gig, he would ask her to go instead, and she went willingly — sometimes accompanied by her children — and they all went to jail and felt honored to do so. Often overshadowed by her late husband, who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was the featured speaker at rallies and protests worldwide, she participated and suffered equally. You don’t need but 1.”, Supporters of the event presented Gregory with a financial love offering to help her with expenses she was left with after her husband’s death. “Thank you so much. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. I can only say it was God’s plan and I had a wonderful life.”. Lillian Gregory Lillian Gregory was the beautiful wife of comedian and civil rights activist **** Gregory. But, Lil stood her grounds and stayed in the jail to ensure all her companions' jobs were secured up until they got out of the Jail, despite she was 8 months stagnant with her twin daughters Pamela Paula. It is a life her children believe is worthy of the world knowing. I appreciate all of you who are here. As she was no less of a freedom fighter compared to her husband, she was honored a year after her husband's death for her contributions to the change, the nation had seen.
“What kind of woman stays in the background and does the work, is the backbone and doesn’t need the glory? For her contributions, DC community honored her in late 2018, about a year after her husband's death. Lillian Eugenia Smith (December 12, 1897 – September 28, 1966) was a writer and social critic of the Southern United States, known most prominently for her best-selling novel Strange Fruit (1944). When she was given permission to leave because of who she was, she refused and remained behind bars for two weeks, supporting the cause of the women she felt might find themselves jobless once released. “I want to congratulate you particularly for all the things you’ve done for us, meaning our people,” said former Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson. William Barber and MSNBC anchors Joy Reid and Lawrence O’Donnell were highlights of the two-hour program. There is nothing small about Lillian Estelle Smith Gregory.
Today, Obama was able to get ellected as a president because a bunch of Black men weren't afraid to cross Edmund Pettus Bridge. © Copyright 2020, Washington Informer Newspaper.
“Without people like yourself and Dick, taking positions like you did, there’s no way I would have ever had an opportunity to be a basketball coach at Georgetown University, and I’m aware of that,” Thompson said. Like people say "Behind every successful man, there's a strong woman", this fits for the Gregory family. Keynote speaker Iyanla Vanzant, who said she drove to D.C. from New York to pay tribute, marveled at the decadeslong Gregory marriage. Her husband was in addition to the previously mentioned an entrepreneur, writer, and actor who sadly died on August 19, 2016, at the age of 84, of heart failure. Great things demand great sacrifice, yes it was very hard life she led, she raised her kids singlehandedly, as her husband was always on the road doing comedy, getting arrested or busy planing a post-racial America. She was born in Willard, Ohio, as the youngest of 14 children.
Once in an award ceremony, where Dick was being celebrated, he said: And to the folks out there whose whole lives were filled with hatred and bigotry, y’all needed a Lillian. The world would be better off if they had a Lillian. They lost one child, Richard, three months after he was born. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. His rep confirmed his death.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'dailyentertainmentnews_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',120,'0','0'])); “It is with enormous sadness that the Gregory family confirms that their father, comedic legend and civil rights activist Mr. **** Gregory departed this earth tonight in Washington, D.C.,” his son, Christian Gregory said via a statement from his father’s rep. “The family appreciates the outpouring of support and love and respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.”. In early phase of Dick's career, he was a struggling black performing artist with a handful of shows. They tied the knot on February 2, 1959.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'dailyentertainmentnews_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',108,'0','0'])); Furthermore, Lillian and her husband had ten children; Michele, Lynne, twin girls Pamela and Paula, Stephanie (a.k.a.
Her daughter, artist, educator and activist Ayanna Gregory, and her brother, Johance Maqubela, were among all 10 children, grandchildren and a host of relatives who poured accolades on the matriarch who turned 81 on Nov. 24.
She was previously married to Dick Gregory. “I look back on my life and think, this little black girl from this little town of Willard, Ohio, coming to Chicago by happenstance and things just happened,” Gregory said in an interview with The Washington Informer. August 19, 2017 by Daily Entertainer Leave a Comment. This statement shows that Lillian held a special place in Dick's life, which is why they were able to spend 58 years in marriage until death separated Dick and Miss Lil.
She grew along with 7 sisters and 7 brothers. Required fields are marked *. A donation of your choice empowers our journalists to continue the work to better inform, educate and empower you through technology and resources that you use. Your email address will not be published.
All Rights Reserved. For her contributions, DC community honored her in late 2018, about a year after her husband's death. Your email address will not be published. She would often attend the events with her brother-in law or with her children. Mrs. Gregory, formerly known as Lillian Smith was a secretary when she met **** at an African-American club. The world would be better off if they had a Lillian.
This is another heroic act Lilian performed. Required fields are marked *. She has recalled, whenever her husband would have to attend a social gathering or would be behind the bars, she would replace her husband's slot and did stand-up gigs in absence of her husband. That she found a job she loved at the University of Chicago and soon went to a nightclub — The Excalibur — with her sister where she saw and later met this “cute” comedian named Dick Gregory, who soon became her husband and the father of her 11 children. Walter Fauntroy’s Key Role in 1963 March on Washington Detailed by His Son, Obama Eulogizes Rep. John Lewis as a ‘Founding Father’ of ‘Better America’, Nation Pays Respects to Civil Rights Icon John Lewis, House Speaker, Bernie Sanders, Celebrities, Others Remember Rep. John Lewis, Congressman John Lewis, Last Surviving Speaker from 1963 March on Washington, dies at 80, Be a Part of The Washington Informer Legacy. But, he succedeed to secure equal civil rights for a black man in America. Xenobia), Gregory, Christian, Miss, Ayanna, Yohance, and son Richard who died two months after birth.
He and his wife of 58 years, Lillian Smith, actually had a total of 11 children, but sadly, one of their sons, Richard Gregory, died just two months after is birth.
Meet Lillian Gregory – Late Dick Gregory’s Wife Of 58 Years. Lillian Gregory + Add or change photo on IMDbPro » Lillian Gregory was born as Lillian Smith. Your email address will not be published. Yes, I would like to receive emails from Washington Informer Newspaper. She was independent and free thinker from her early days and carried her own weight from a very young age as well. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. According to I Love Old School Music, Lillian became pregnant while they were dating, and Gregory’s mother insisted they marry: “No …
Back then, she got pregnant with her first baby Richard Gregory Jr, and as Dick was a strong committed African man, he desided to get married to Lillian and started family a family in Chicago. He’s my man, and I respect him, but I’ve got far more respect for you right now for what you had to do. So, here are some undisclosed facts about Lillian, that you might not be aware of, let's jump right into it!
One night she along with her sister were out having fun at the Excalibur night club, where she first saw Dick Gregory. Lillian Gregory was born as Lillian Smith. Back then, her husband had a low income and was a politically charged activist, to make things even worst, Lillian lost her first baby born son, which deeply shook her.
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