-
Birth date/birth place
Medgar Evers was born in Decatur, Mississippi to Mr. James and Jesse Evers. He was the third of five children (including elder brother Charles Evers) of Jesse (Wright) who had two children from her previous marriage. -
Early Life
Medgar's family owned a small farm and his father worked at a sawmill. Evers and his siblings walked a total of 12 miles a day to attend segregated schools. Eventually, he earned his high school diploma and was later drafted into the United States army during World War II. Edgar Served in the army from 1943-1945, where he fought in the Battle of Normandy as well, and after the war ended he received an honorable discharged as a sergeant. -
Marriage
In 1942, after nearly four years at Alcorn College, Edgar met and married Myrlie Beasley his senior year. To this union three children were born. -
Education and Jobs
In 1948, Medgar enrolled at Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College (Alcorn State University), majoring in business administration. While in college in competed on the debate team, played football and track, sung in the choir, and was the junior class president. He later earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1952. -
The Birth of Darrell Evers
Darrell Evers was the second born son to Medgar and Myrlie Evers. He died of natural causes on February 18, 2001. -
Contributions To The Black Community
He became the first state field secretary of the NAACP in Mississippi. As such, he organized voter-registration efforts and economic boycotts, and investigated crimes perpetrated against blacks. -
How He Changed Society
In 1954, the year of the Brown vs. Board case, Evers quit his job of the insurance business to attend Mississippi Law School. He later moved to the state capital of Jackson and became the first state field secretary of the NAACP in Mississippi. His first case was the murder trial of 14-year-old, Emmett Till who was killed for talking to a white woman. -
Obstacles
One of Medgar Evers obstacles was the investigation and the trial of the murder of Emmett Till. Evers overcame these obstacles - including having to walk a total of 24 miles to and from school each day - and graduated from high school. He joined the American Army during World War Two and was honorably discharged in 1946. -
The Birth of James Van Evers
James Van Evers was born in Decatur, Mississippi and was the first born son to both Medgar and Myrlie Evers. -
The Death of Medgar Evers
On June 12, 1963, while just arriving home Medgar Evers was getting out of his car when he was shot in the back in his home driveway. He was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries in Jackson, Mississippi.
