By Friday, July 18, 2020 Blacks and the Nation had lost two civil rights icons. Representative John Lewis lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and died at age 80, and the day before Cordey Tindell Vivian (a.k.a. C. T. Vivian) minister, author, and close friend and lieutenant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement died of natural causes in his home at age 95. Vivian resided in Atlanta and founded the C.T. Vivian Leadership, Inc. He was also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

Rep. Lewis represented the city of Atlanta for more than 30 years in Congress.  He had recently won the June primary for the 5^th Congressional District seat in his bid for an 18th term. Under state law, the Georgia Democratic Party was required to choose a replacement nominee by the end of the day Monday, the first business day since Lewis’s death. Today, the Georgia Democrats chose Nikema Williams, a state senator and chairwoman of the state party, to replace the late congressman John Lewis (D) on the November ballot.

Rep. Lewis has been called many things to include “one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced” and “the conscience of the U.S. Congress.”  Rep. Lewis’s biography speaks volumes about the life he lived and the work and advocacy he dedicated his life to.  For more information about Rep. Lewis visit https://johnlewis.house.gov/john-lewis/biography.

Flags were ordered to fly at half-staff at the White House and all federal public buildings and grounds, including embassies abroad and all military posts and naval stations, throughout the day Saturday.

Funeral arrangements for Rep. Lewis most likely will be held in Atlanta, but there weren’t any immediate announcement on plans, which could be affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Funeral services for Vivian are currently scheduled to be livestreamed broadcast on Thursday.

(Video from CNN)