Gloria Blackwell: noted South Carolina 1960s civil rights leader

March 11, 1927 – December 7, 2010

Little Rock, Dillon County, SC

Peachtree City, Georgia

Gloria Blackwell, a noted leader of the Orangeburg Civil Rights movement, died in Peachtree City, Georgia, on December 7, 2010. She had lived in Georgia for the past 40 years, continuing her zeal for education and the pursuit of justice.

Born in Little Rock, South Carolina, on March 11, 1927, Gloria was the only daughter of Harrison Blackwell and Lurline Thomas Blackwell, parents who instilled a love of justice, education, and Christian social concern in their three children. Gloria spent most of her young adult life in Orangeburg, SC, where she strengthened her long-time involvement in the Methodist Church, the NAACP, and the local schools.

By the early 1960s, married to South Carolina State professor Larney “Jack” Rackley, she and her young daughters, Jamelle and Lurma, had become dedicated and deeply entrenched participants in the civil rights struggle through the NAACP-supported Orangeburg Movement for Civic Improvement.

Gloria was dubbed “Miss Movement,” by her contemporaries in the Orangeburg Movement, which had its base at Trinity Methodist Church, under the leadership of Dr. Harlowe Caldwell, Rev. Matthew McCollom, and Rev. I. DeQuincey Newman. She was arrested numerous times for her civil rights activities, and traveled throughout the state promoting NAACP memberships and participating in rallies and protests.

Lawsuits she initiated or joined resulted in desegregation of facilities including the Orangeburg hospital and local public schools. Because of her activism, Gloria was fired from her position as a teacher in the Orangeburg Public Schools and was declared “unfit to be a teacher.” She later won restoration of her position, back pay, and the right for black teachers to protest. Before this ruling, black teachers were subject to termination for carrying an NAACP membership card, for picketing, or for no stated reason.

Gloria worked as Membership Secretary for the South Carolina NAACP and as director of the Steering Committee of the Orangeburg Movement before relocating to Norfolk, VA, in 1964 after the Civil Rights Bill was passed. She taught in the English Department at Norfolk State College (now University), later served as Coordinator of Black Student Affairs at American International College in Springfield, MA then moved to Atlanta in 1970 where she earned a Ph.D. in American Studies at Emory University. Dr. Blackwell taught at Emory University and Clark Atlanta University for the next 20 years.

Dr. Blackwell (Rackley) has been frequently recognized for her civic contributions and is featured in Cecil Williams’s books, “Freedom and Justice,” and “Out of the Box in Dixie,” photo journals of the Orangeburg (and others parts of SC) movement. She has received honors and awards for her historical contributions to South Carolina.

Continuing her commitment to faith through action once she moved to Atlanta, Dr. Blackwell worked on the team restoring the boyhood home of Dr. Martin Luther King, and volunteered in political campaigns. She maintained a keen sense of perception of the human spirit and extended her caring to everyone she met.

Gifted with amazing intellect, Dr. Blackwell was an avid Scrabble player who rarely lost. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and other word games, as well.

She leaves a husband, Dr. Louis C. Frayser of Peachtree City; children Jamelle Rackley of Peachtree City, Lurma Rackley of Tyrone, Danielle DeJournette (Camp LeJeune) and Harrison DeJournette of Peachtree City, Batecia DeJournette Burgess (Walter) of Virginia Beach, Jane DeJournette of Atlanta, and Charles DeJournette II of Atlanta; grandchildren Ramona Yeefah Thurman of Chicago, Jodie Patterson (Joe Ghartey) of New York City, Rumal Rackley (Jenelle Gibbs) of Fayetteville, Georgia, and Patrick Riley II of Hampton, Georgia; and nine great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by a loving brother, Legrand Lee Blackwell (Virginia) of Mableton, Ga; and scores of other relatives and devoted friends in the Atlanta area and throughout the country.

Dr. Blackwell donated her body to Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine for research purposes. A memorial service will be held on December 18 at 2 p.m. at the Peachtree City United Methodist Church, where Dr. Blackwell was a loyal member since the year 2000.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the church or to Claflin University or Clark Atlanta University.