This is another heroic act Lilian performed. Lillian Smith and walk of fame receiving comedian Richard were married back in 1959, the pair has had seen a lot of thick and thin aspects of life together. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. She was born in Willard, Ohio, as the youngest of 14 children. All Rights Reserved. So, can we call America post-racial now? Meet Lillian Gregory – Late Dick Gregory’s Wife Of 58 Years.

Lillian Gregory put the stepping stone to build a strong family, raise 10 healthy and socially respected children. 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. Your email address will not be published. I appreciate all of you who are here.

History Should Never Forget the Contributions of Suffragist Irene Moorman Blackstone, Rev. “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. August 19, 2017 by Daily Entertainer Leave a Comment. 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. You can also subscribe without commenting. For her contributions, DC community honored her in late 2018, about a year after her husband's death.

“Thank you so much. Ebony magazine, 1971; Dick Gregory, his wife, Lillian and 8 of their 10 children (the others were not born at the time of this photo). His rep confirmed his death.

Lillian is the mother of 11 children and after her first child died, she still parented 10 healthy children, on her own. She was accompanied by her children to the function and shared her feelings thankfully, after receiving the award. 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. 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.”. 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… Poems, musical tributes and video greetings from Stevie Wonder, Susan Taylor, Rev. She and Dick Gregory met in an African night club in Chicago and started dating. In the mid-’60s, when Gregory was eight months pregnant with twins, she was arrested in Memphis with nearly 20 women. Lillian Gregory Lillian Gregory was the beautiful wife of comedian and civil rights activist **** Gregory. She was accompanied by her children to the function and shared her feelings thankfully, after receiving the award. Your email address will not be published. “I can’t tell you why. 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. The world would be better off if they had a Lillian. Sign me up! She would often attend the events with her brother-in law or with her 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. Lillian Gregory put the stepping stone to build a strong family, raise 10 healthy and socially respected children. “What kind of woman stays married to one man for 58 years?” she asked. Lillian Gregory's accomplishments are usually over shadowed by what her husband accomplished! Required fields are marked *. 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. “I was headed back to Chicago, to my family and my apartment,” she said. Mrs. Gregory, formerly known as Lillian Smith was a secretary when she met **** at an African-American club. When he was fingerprinted and sent to jail, so was she. Which makes her a stand-up comic as well. (You can unsubscribe anytime), [awesome-weather location="Washington, DC USA" units="F" owm_city_id="4140963" size="wide" forecast_days="3" hide_stats="0" background_by_weather="1" text_color="#fff"], Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker, Lillian Gregory Honored for Extraordinary Journey. The kind of woman I aspire to be.”, In a tribute to his wife, published in the program, Dick Gregory said, “And to the folks out there whose whole lives were filled with hatred and bigotry, y’all needed a Lillian. 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. 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 left after working for two years after high school to save money to go to her choice school, Ohio State University, quit after the first day, then left for Chicago. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Lillian Gregory + Add or change photo on IMDbPro » Lillian Gregory was born as Lillian Smith. I can only say it was God’s plan and I had a wonderful life.”. But, he succedeed to secure equal civil rights for a black man in America. Lillian Gregory is also a warrior, she walked the bridge alongside her husband Dick Gregory, when he crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge with Martin Luther King jr. 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. So, let's know who she actually is? “I certainly don’t take that lightly because of the times you had to encounter, particularly in raising 10 kids at the same time while Dick was floating around the country. You don’t need but 1.”. 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. Happy birthday, and raise a little hell while you’re at it.”. Gregory married Lillian Smith in 1959. 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's net worth even after his death in 2017, is around $4 million and his book still remains one of the best selling books in America, resulting in thousands of dollars in Royalty, which is still helping Lil, live a happy life.

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. In early phase of Dick's career, he was a struggling black performing artist with a handful of shows. Required fields are marked *. She grew along with 7 sisters and 7 brothers. They lost one child, Richard, three months after he was born. Likewise, he was considered as anti-social by white supremacists. Spouse (1) Back in mid-60's when her husband was working with Martin Luther King Jr. in all country protest movement, she along with 20 other African ladies were arrested but after police found out who she was they were ready to let her go!

Few in the auditorium filled with friends and admirers of Dick Gregory knew Lillian’s story — about where she came from in Willard, Ohio, and that she was the youngest of 14 children — seven girls and seven boys. What kind of woman? A white woman who openly embraced controversial positions on matters of race and gender equality, she was a southern liberal unafraid to criticize segregation and work toward the dismantling of Jim Crow laws, at a time when such actions virtually guaranteed social ostracism.



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