Evelyn Gibson Lowery: 1925-2013

John Spink

Evelyn Lowery, the wife of civil rights leader Joseph E. Lowery, died Sept. 26, 2013, in her Atlanta home. She was 88. In this June 3, 1999, photo, Evelyn Lowery, founder and chair of the board of the SCLC/Women Inc., was preparing for the 20th anniversary celebration.

By Michelle E. Shaw and Ernie Suggs

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It was a very rare occasion that Evelyn Lowery wasn’t at the side of her husband, the Rev. Joseph Lowery.
As he rose to prominence as one of the country’s leading figures in the civil rights movement, she was a constant companion, whether it was at a rally, march, news conference or in church. Conversely, as she established herself as a leader as founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference/WOMEN, her husband was a steady presence.

With one notable exception: It was in Decatur, Ala., on May 26, 1979.
Joseph Lowery was leading a march of nearly 2,000 in support of Tommy Lee Hines, a mentally disabled black man who was accused of raping a white woman and convicted in October 1978 by an all-white jury. Sensing the threat of danger, Lowery had his wife ride behind the marchers in the couple’s pale green 1977 Buick.

“The Klan had threatened violence,” Evelyn Lowery said in a 1985 interview with The Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I usually walk beside my husband, but he said I better not this time. So I drove the car.”
The car and the marchers were met by a mob of Klansmen. Several shots were fired. She barely escaped; two shots hit the Buick.

One bullet left a hole in the window frame on the driver’s side. The other shattered the windshield and lodged in the dashboard.

“I could hear them yelling ‘Kill ‘em all!’ ” she said. “It lasted probably about 10 minutes, but it seemed like an eternity.”

The Buick still sits in the Lowerys’ Atlanta garage as a reminder.

Evelyn Gibson Lowery died Thursday morning at her home from complications from a stroke. Lowery, 88, was hospitalized Sept. 18 after suffering the stroke at her home. She returned home from the hospital Wednesday.

The family will share a celebration of Evelyn Lowery’s life with the public in two events next week.
On Monday, there will be a public viewing from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Cascade United Methodist Church, 3144 Cascade Road in southwest Atlanta.

Read more here http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-obituaries/evelyn-gibson-lowery-1925-2013/nZ8J6/

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Planning a Trip on a Budget

Lynesha McElveen stands over 6 feet tall in designer heels, has diva-esque taste and will be the first to tell you that she's a designer woman who shops til she drops on a budget. On Thursday night, Lynesha spoke at an event titled "Ballin on a Budget," hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, "Sweet" Alpha Pi Chapter, located at Clark Atlanta University. A crowd of over 60 Metro-Atlanta residents, college students, faculty and staff were in attendance.

Lynesha offered tips on how to save money, pay off debt, and find fabulous deals on a budget. She also gave attendees an insight on how to travel smart. Some of her smart traveling tips included:

1 - Sign up to get weekly alerts on current deals emailed to you. Sites that do this include: Travelzoo, Vacations to go, and many airlines.

2 - Be willing to get bumped from your flight. This works especially when traveling for pleasure, or if you don’t have to be somewhere by a certain time. Give up your seat and earn a free ticket.

3 - Find credit cards and programs that offer travel incentives. There are many cards that offer frequent flyer miles, and other travel rewards, including American Express and VISA.

4 - Purchase airline tickets to depart on Tuesdays or Thursdays. These are the best days to buy tickets. You can also find cheap tickets by flying out on the actual day of the holiday for less, i.e. flying on Thanksgiving or Christmas day.

5 - Find hotels that offer discounts to local shops and businesses. Ask the concierge for coupons booklets for products and services including massages, travel excursions, entertainment, and more.

Lynesha also recommended when traveling to ditch the heavy luggage, and instead pack everything in a backpack. Lynesha not only gave smart advice on traveling, but also on ways to secure your financial future. She insisted that you can still look cute, "Ballin on a Budget."

Lynesha McElveen is the owner of Liberty Educational Group (L.E.G.) and Cheer On The Move. She has a passion for working with people of all ages and educating them about their life, finances, and health.

Her work with L.E.G. gives her the opportunity to conduct seminars and coach people on how to attain financial literacy and increasse personal growth.

As the head coach of Cheer On The Move she trains girls and young women in excellence by developing self-esteem, character and discipline through cheerleading training.

Mrs. McElveen lives in Atlanta, Georgia where she works with teenagers as a Social Worker. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Junior League of Atlanta. Lynesha and her husband, Rodney McElveen, are dedicated to improving the world around them by educating, empowering and serving others… one day at a time.

Sojourner Marable Grimmett is an Atlanta-based author who is recognized for writing about the joys and challenges of being a “stay-at-work” mom and connects with moms, both new and experienced, who have the responsibility of raising a family and maintaining a full-time job. Sojourner has been featured in FitPregnancy, iVillage, MacaroniKid.com, BlackCelebKids.com, MyAtlantaMoms.com, WhatToExpect.com, BlackandMarriedwithKids.com, Fox News, and CNN. She is married to her college sweetheart, Roland and they have two young sons, Roland Jay and Joshua. Visit her blog sojournermarablegrimmett.blogspot.com follow her on twitter and like her on Facebook. Also join her new campaign to support establishing lactation rooms in public places www.supporttablefortwo.org.