Rev. Dr. Joseph Echols Lowery Obituary in Atlanta at Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home, Inc.

Obituary For Rev. Dr. Joseph Echols Lowery

The “Dean of the Civil Rights Movement,” passed away on March 27, 2020. Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and subsequently led the organization as its president from 1977 to 1997. Lowery served as the pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta from 1986 through 1992.

Dr. Lowery received several awards; The NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award, the inaugural Walter P. Reuther Humanitarian Award from Wayne State University, the Martin Luther King Jr. Center Peace Award and the National Urban League's Whitney M. Young Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award. Ebony named him one of the 15 greatest black preachers, describing him as, "the consummate voice of biblical social relevancy, a focused voice, speaking truth to power." Dr. Lowery was honored at the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, located in Atlanta, Georgia. Lowery was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama, on July 30, 2009. He was also given the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute that year.

Services entrusted to Willie A. Watkins Historic West End, 404-758-1731.

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We appreciate you, we love you, and we thank God for you. Rest in peace my brother. We will see you on the other side. Marion BlackQ

What a great man he was. He had the courage to lead us forward in times of uncertainty. We thank you Dr.Lowery for all that you sacrificed to make a better world for all of us! Your service did not go unnoticed. God bless you Lowery family. Signed, A citizen of Atlanta

To the Lowery family sending you our Deepest and Sincere Sympathy gor tje lost of a Great man.

Deepest Condolences to the Lowery Family. We mourn with you and share your sorrow (Revelation 21:4,5).

With deep sympathy, we share your sorrow. John 5:28,29 Jean Anderson

To the family of the late Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery. My family and I wish to extend a few words of condolences to your family. Rev. Lowery and the Civil Rights Movement has played an intricate part in my life. I learned at an early age the brutal and injustices during the movement even though 1968 was the year in which I was born. My grandmother and other elders along with my mother mede sure we were educated in the knowledge of black history. For this knowledge and the true soldiers of this movement including him I will forever be grateful. I know they are all rejoicing and waiting on Congressman John Lewis to arrive for there will be no need for such a movement as this in Heaven. May God keep him arms of comfort around all of you, and please remember that Rev. Lowery until the end never gave up instead he quietly gave in.
With Sincere love and thanks, Mr. Stevie A. Lawrence Greensboro, Georgia

On the behalf of family in your time we thank you for all support. Willie Watkins Mortuary.

To the Lowery Family: Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Hold tight to those memories, and trust in Jehovah God for the strength needed to endure. Psalm 62:8 encourages us to "Trust in him at all times, O people. Pour out your hearts before him. God is a refuge for us." My condolences, S. Acker.