[In Memoriam] Juanita W. Goggins (1934-2010): A Trailblazer of Civil Rights
Posted on 15. Mar, 2010 by Leshell Hatley in Scholarly Celebrations
As a graduate of SC State University, University of South Carolina, and Winthrop University Ms. Juanite Willmon-Goggins became the first African-American woman to be elected to the SC General Assembly.
Born in Pendleton, SC, she was a former teacher and wife of a dentist. She also became the first African-American woman to serve on the United States Civil Rights Commission. To add to her list of firsts, she was also the first African-American woman to serve as a state delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1972. She was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1974, and served three terms before resigning for health reasons in 1980.
Juanita W. Goggins
After leaving the legislature, Goggins divorced and moved to Columbia, where she was a state social worker for a time. She also founded a nonprofit tutoring service called the c.
In 2009, part of Highway 5 in Rock Hill, South Carolina was named in her honor.
“Goggins, whose achievements included key legislation on school funding, kindergarten and class size, had become increasingly reclusive. She spent her final years turning down help from neighbors who knew little of her history-making past. Her body was not discovered for more than a week. Those neighbors, as well as former colleagues and relatives, are now left wondering whether they could have done more to help.”
There are many news articles notifying American citizens of her death, we’d like to celebrate her life of many contributions. May she rest in peace.
More Related posts:
- Dr. Anna (Pauli) Murray: Civil Rights Activits, Feminist, Lawyer, Writer, Ordained Priest
- Dorothy I. Height: Educator, Activist, and Civil Rights Leader
- James Baldwin: Author and Civil Rights Activist
- Robert P. Moses: Civil Rights Activist & Founder of The Algebra Project
- Eleanor Holmes Norton: Congresswoman, Civil Rights Activist
