Those We Lost — June 12

Honoring those we lost on June 12 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind.

Medgar Evers

Born July 2, 1925 — Died June 12, 1963

Title: Civil rights activist, NAACP field secretary, and voting rights organizer

Medgar Evers was a civil rights leader in Mississippi who fought segregation, voter suppression, and racial violence. His assassination outside his home in Jackson became one of the defining tragedies of the civil rights era and helped push the country toward deeper awareness of the cost of freedom work.

Theresa Merritt

Born September 24, 1922 — Died June 12, 1998

Title: Actress and singer

Theresa Merritt was a stage, television, and film actress whose career included The Wiz, That’s My Mama, and August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Her work gave power and depth to Black women’s roles on stage and screen, especially in performances rooted in voice, humor, and emotional force.

Charles “Teenie” Harris

Born July 2, 1908 — Died June 12, 1998

Title: Photographer and visual chronicler of Black Pittsburgh

Charles “Teenie” Harris photographed Pittsburgh’s African American community for decades, especially through his work with the Pittsburgh Courier. His archive preserves one of the richest visual records of 20th-century Black urban life, including musicians, athletes, workers, families, and everyday community scenes.