Summersode 7: A Mississippi Tragedy
A Mississippi Tragedy
Medgar Evers (1925-1963)
On June 12, 1963, at the sound of a gun, Myrlie Evers, wife of Medgar Evers, rushed to her door, fearful that she knew what had just happened. Pregnant with her fourth child, she rushed to the door as her children hid. On the other side, Myrlie found her husband’s blood body collapsed near the door. Myrlie’s worst fear was realized, her husband, a civil rights leader in Jackson, Mississippi, had been shot in the back by an assassin’s bullet. Less than an hour later, he would die in an all-white hospital.
Evers’s death would shock a nation! His wife would spend decades to get justice for her husband, a struggle written in a book that would become a movie, Ghosts of Mississippi, and later written about in her book.
In this episode Denise and Zelda discuss the amazing man Medgar Evers was before his death at age 37 and explore what little is known of his family tree. Then we touch briefly on his killer.
If you want to learn more about his killer, Byron de la Beckwith, join our Patreon to gain access to a bonus episode, that will be released soon, where we discuss the Beckwith family tree.
Medgar Evers, 1958
Photo credit: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Medgar Evers and Roy Wilkins (left) being arrested as they picketed outside of a Woolworth’s in Jackson, Mississippi on 31 May 1963, less than 2 weeks before he was assassinated.
Photo credit: Civil Rights Movement Archive
Medgar on the far left. He was at the White House attending a meeting held by President John F. Kennedy (front left) with representatives of the NAACP on 25 July 1961. Others in the picture, starting with the man closest to Evers, include: Calvin Luper (OK), Ed Turner (MI), Rev. W. J. Hodge, Dr. S. Y. Nixson, C. R. Darden (MS), Kelly M. Alexander, Kivie Kaplan, the rest standing are unidentified. The man with his back to the camera was Bishop Steven G. Spottswood.
Along with the news of the assassination of Medgar Evers were articles like this one.
Source: The Greenwood Commonwealth, 12 Jun 1963
An editorial that appeared on the front page of a Mississippi newspaper next to articles about the death of Medgar Evers.
Source: The Greenwood Commonwealth, 12 Jun 1963
Myrlie Evers and her children visited President John F. Kennedy at the White House on June 21, 1963, just 9 days after Medgar’s assassination. Pictured (from left to right): Myrlie Beasley Evers, Reena, President Kennedy, Darrell, Medgar’s brother Charles. (Man in the back is unidentified).
Source: Des Moines Tribune, 14 Jun 1963
Source: The Tribune, 20 June 1963
Myrlie Beasley Evers Williams in 2000.
Medgar’s older brother, James Charles Evers (1922-2020) was the first black mayor of a town in Mississippi in 1969.
This advertisement was placed in a Jackson, Mississippi Black newspaper. You can learn a lot about Evers just from this ad.
Source: Jackson Advocate, 1 November 1952
This application and it’s rejection would lead Evers on the path to becoming a civil rights leader.
Source: The Daily Herald, 17 Sep 1954
The World War II Draft Card filled out by Medgar Evers.
The back side of the World War II Draft Registration card.
Byron de la Beckwith, the murderer of Medgar Evers, was proudly racist until his death in 2001.
Many members of the Sons of the American Revolution in Mississippi were also members of the (white) Citizens Council as well as the Sons of the Confederacy. Beckwith was a member of all three.
One of a handful of letters to the editor written by the assassin of Medgar Evers white supremacist Byron de la Beckwith.
Source: Clarion-Ledger, 18 March 1957
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Recommended Reading
The Autobiography of Medgar Evers: A Hero’s Life and Legacy Revealed Through His Writings, Letters, and Speeches by Myrlie Evers-Williams
Medgar Evers: Mississippi Martyr by Michael Vinson Williams
Ghosts of Mississippi by Maryanne Vollers [Currently “free” for Kindle Unlimited Subscribers]
SOURCES
Medgar Evers: Mississippi Martyr by Michael Vinson Williams
Against The Current: Remembering Medgar Evers
Darrell Evers, Son of Slain Civil Rights Activist, Dies
Reena Evers Bio at Lullalee
For Evers (Parts 1-3) at Diary of Historian Blog
Wikipedia
We use a multitude of resources when researching a family tree up to an including census records from 1800-1940, marriage records in various states, draft registration cards, newspaper articles, and more. If you would like more specific details on where information was obtained, please email us and we’ll respond in a timely manner.