Edith Savage-Jennings

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.

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.
DiedNovember 12, 2017(2017-11-12) (aged 93)
Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Known forActivist
Spouse(s)C. Donald Jennings (1993-2011; his death)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Awards and honors

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]

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References
  1. "Edith Savage-Jennings - View Obituary & Service Information". Edith Savage-Jennings Obituary. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  2. 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. "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. Rojas, Christina (February 18, 2016). "N.J. civil rights leader, friend of MLK gets her own day". NJ.com. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  5. 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. 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. "Rutgers, The State University of New Jerey" (PDF). Rutgers University. 2016. 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. "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.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  10. "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.
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