Esther Harrison, a Columbus native whose passion in helping her community led her to spearhead African American voter registration drives during the civil rights movement and later serve a decade-plus in the state Legislature, died this morning.
She was 69. Today was her birthday.
Constance Slaughter-Harvey, a longtime friend, said Harrison died at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. The cause of death was not immediately released but Slaughter-Harvey said Harrison had been in and out of the hospital over several weeks. Harrison had been on kidney dialysis for 12 years.
Harrison represented District 41 — located wholly in Lowndes County — in the Legislature since 2000.
Both friends and political foes say her personality may have been subtle and quiet, but her goals were evidence of a big heart. The words “pioneer” and “gentleness” and “integrity” were spoken this morning by people remembering her.
“She was always civic-minded, always trying to improve the lives of people in this community and the whole state of Mississippi,” Thomas Lee, a high school classmate of Harrison’s in the 1960s, told The Dispatch this morning. “She was just a wonderful person that was concerned about her community.”
Leroy Brooks, a Lowndes County supervisor who knew her for roughly 35 years, said his late friend’s legacy would be that of a person “who tried to affect change in the community.”
“She had a long history of being a community activist,” Brooks said. “And I think that’s what people will remember the most.”
Gov. Phil Bryant issued a statement this morning.
“Deborah and I are saddened to learn of Rep. Harrison’s passing,” he said. “She worked quietly and effectively for the people of her district, never seeking fanfare or the spotlight.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones.”
Columbus native
Harrison, who grew up on the Southside of Columbus, attended R.H. Hunt High School. In the classroom, she was quiet.
“No one would have thought that she would assume the power that she did,” George Irby, a distant cousin, said, adding that when classmates sometimes entered into arguments, Harrison would calm both sides down.
“She saw things clearer than most of us,” Irby said. “She would help on a peaceful basis and it kind of made things work out…she didn’t say a lot and when she did, people listened.”
After graduating from R.H. Hunt High School in Columbus — she was in the top 10 of her class — she attended Alcorn State University and Mississippi University for Women. She became a teacher in the Columbus public school district and, eventually, an activist for civil rights.
“Esther was one of the people years ago who walked out of the school system when they were trying to tell them how to wear their hair,” Brooks said.
Harrison worked with the NAACP, too, helping getting African Americans registered to vote during the 1960s and 1970s.
“She wanted to make sure that unserved people were served,” Irby said.
Slaughter-Harvey, an attorney, met Harrison in 1972 when she traveled to Columbus for a court case. It was a racially-charged, “hostile” environment, Slaughter-Harvey said, and Harrison provided her shelter and security.
“She was a principled-person,” she said. “I will miss her greatly.”
Enters politics
In 2000, Harrison, a Democrat, was elected to the state Legislature.
So was Gary Chism, a Republican who represents District 37. While they both represented parts of Lowndes County, they rarely agreed on matters in Jackson. Chism, though, called Harrison a “first-class lady” this morning. He said the Legislature would miss her.
“We were pretty much polar opposites politically, and we never voted alike,” he said. “But Esther was a real lady. She never spoke a lot on the House floor, but she was always there and she was a consistent vote for the opposing team.”
Chism said Harrison for a number of years sat directly in front of him at the state Capitol.
“I’m sure she heard a lot of comments,” he said, jokingly. “But she would always try to calm me down.”
Brooks said the last time he spoke to Harrison was at the state Capitol. They discussed getting older, how politics and much more had changed through the years, and about how they were both looking forward to retirement.
“I always enjoyed working with her,” Brooks said.
Funeral arrangements are pending. Survivors include a daughter, Aubra Berenice Givens.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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