Those We Lost — July 24

Honoring those we lost on July 24 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind.

Mary Church Terrell

Full name: Mary Eliza Church Terrell

Born September 23, 1863 — died July 24, 1954

Civil rights activist, suffragist, educator, writer, and Black women’s club movement leader.

Terrell fought for racial justice, women’s voting rights, education, and equal access to public life. As one of the first Black women to earn a college degree and a founding leader in Black women’s organizations, she helped build the foundation for generations of civil rights activism.

Sherman Hemsley

Full name: Sherman Alexander Hemsley

Born February 1, 1938 — died July 24, 2012

Actor, stage performer, television icon, and Black sitcom history figure.

Hemsley became unforgettable as George Jefferson on All in the Family and The Jeffersons. His sharp timing, swagger, and comic energy helped make George Jefferson one of the most recognizable Black television characters in American pop culture.