By Roscoe Barnes III
Chairman, Anne Moody
History Project
Copyright © 2017
#AnneMoody
 |
| U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson |
When Anne Moody passed on
Feb. 5, 2017, U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson was one of the first to publicly
share the news. On Feb. 9, 2017, he posted the news on his website.
"I am deeply saddened
by the death of Anne Moody,” he wrote. “Anne dedicated her life to ensuring
equality for others. Her sacrifices will never be forgotten and her legacy will
live on in the hearts of many.”
The congressman went on to
offer condolences to her family “and all others who mourn her passing.” In
addition to her son, Sascha, he listed the names of her sisters, Adline Moody,
Virginia Gibson, Frances Jefferson and Vallery Jefferson; and her brothers, Ralph
Jefferson, James Jefferson and Kenneth Jefferson. He mistakenly omitted the
name, Fred Moody Jr., the oldest brother.
“I hope that they will
take comfort in her impact throughout this country," the congressman said.
Soon after he broke the
news, the story of Moody’s passing began appearing in newspapers throughout the
United States. Her sister, Adline, informed the media that she had been
struggling with dementia in her later years and that she was living in Gloster,
Miss., at the time of her death.
Thompson, a Democrat,
represents Mississippi’s Second Congressional District, which includes much of
western Mississippi. He is serving his 13th term and is considered “the
longest-serving African-American elected official in the State of Mississippi
and the lone Democrat in the Mississippi Congressional Delegation,” according
to his website.
That Thompson would be the one to take the lead in recognizing Moody is no surprise given his background. In addition to having grown up in Mississippi, he was also inspired by leaders in the civil rights movement. Like Moody, Thompson is a graduate of Tougaloo College. In fact, he graduated in 1968, the same year that her book, Coming of Age in Mississippi, was published by Dial Press.
While attending Tougaloo, he apparently shared some of the same interests as Moody. He also displayed some of the same passion as Moody by becoming an activist. His website notes:
In a December 2014 statement honoring Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in the Congressional Record, Thompson cites Moody’s book to highlight the important role the church played during the civil rights movement. He notes:
While Moody may have lived in seclusion during her final years, according to some reports, it is good to know that her death did not go unnoticed by respected leaders, such as Thompson, and major news media outlets.
That Thompson would be the one to take the lead in recognizing Moody is no surprise given his background. In addition to having grown up in Mississippi, he was also inspired by leaders in the civil rights movement. Like Moody, Thompson is a graduate of Tougaloo College. In fact, he graduated in 1968, the same year that her book, Coming of Age in Mississippi, was published by Dial Press.
While attending Tougaloo, he apparently shared some of the same interests as Moody. He also displayed some of the same passion as Moody by becoming an activist. His website notes:
“He
began his grassroots political activism being a civil rights champion through
the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) while a student at
Tougaloo College – a private historically black college in Jackson,
Mississippi. He organized voter registration drives for African-Americans
throughout the Mississippi Delta on behalf of the organization before
graduating….”
In a December 2014 statement honoring Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in the Congressional Record, Thompson cites Moody’s book to highlight the important role the church played during the civil rights movement. He notes:
Mount
Zion continued to serve the African-American community religiously and
socially. During the summer of 1964, Mount Zion was the location of a pivotal
moment in our state’s civil rights struggle. In her autobiography, Coming of
Age in Mississippi, Ann Moody notes that Mount Zion was the biggest Negro church
in Canton and the center of the local marches.
While Moody may have lived in seclusion during her final years, according to some reports, it is good to know that her death did not go unnoticed by respected leaders, such as Thompson, and major news media outlets.
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Would you like to
know more about Anne Moody?
Visit the Anne
Moody page here!
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U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson’s Statement
See http://archive.is/9lEcv or
Biography of U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson
https://benniethompson.house.gov/about
Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District
https://benniethompson.house.gov/about
Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District
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For more information:
Questions about the Anne Moody History Project may be
directed to Roscoe Barnes
III via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com For updates
on Anne Moody history and the on-going work of this community service project,
simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter
(@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi
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