On Sunday, July 31, a benefit was held by the Greene County Chapter of SCLC for the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, who suffers from cancer and is now in a nursing home.

Although the turnout was light due to several schedule conflicts, Elder Spiver W. Gordon announced that over $1,720 had been raised in Greene County to assist Shuttlesworth.

Mrs. Sephira Shuttlesworth and Rev. H. K. Matthews shared some of their memories with those gathered to honor Shuttlesworth.

Matthews told of his friendship with Shuttlesworth during the Montgomery Bus Boycott and battling the fire hoses, dogs and bombs in Birmingham.

He talked about the bravery of Shuttlesworth and how he suffered from cracked ribs due to the fire hoses in Birmingham.

According to Gordon, Shuttlesworth was sent to Birmingham to prepare the way for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mrs. Shuttlesworth told those gathered at the Activity Center that her husband suffered from good days and not so good days. “He has two kinds of cancer and the disease has now spread to his liver, but he acts like nothing is going on. Every two weeks he has to have a blood transfusion. It is very difficult to see him managing his pain,” she confided to her audience.

Shuttlesworth is now residing in a nursing home where his physical condition can be more closely monitored. Many benefits being held throughout the SCLC and Civil Rights Communities are to raise money to enable his family to continue that level of care. 

Mrs. Shuttlesworth reminisced about her life with her husband and what a leader he had been throughout the modern day civil rights movement. 

During the program inspirational songs were presented by Mrs. Hicks, Donald Young and James Carter.

Gordon gave a short speech, praising Shuttlesworth and all that he had accomplished during his lifetime.On Sunday, July 31, a benefit was held by the Greene County Chapter of SCLC for the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, who suffers from cancer and is now in a nursing home.Although the turnout was light due to several schedule conflicts, Elder Spiver W. Gordon announced that over $1,720 had been raised in Greene County to assist Shuttlesworth.Mrs. Sephira Shuttlesworth and Rev. H. K. Matthews shared some of their memories with those gathered to honor Shuttlesworth.Matthews told of his friendship with Shuttlesworth during the Montgomery Bus Boycott and battling the fire hoses, dogs and bombs in Birmingham.He talked about the bravery of Shuttlesworth and how he suffered from cracked ribs due to the fire hoses in Birmingham.According to Gordon, Shuttlesworth was sent to Birmingham to prepare the way for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.Mrs. Shuttlesworth told those gathered at the Activity Center that her husband suffered from good days and not so good days. “He has two kinds of cancer and the disease has now spread to his liver, but he acts like nothing is going on. Every two weeks he has to have a blood transfusion. It is very difficult to see him managing his pain,” she confided to her audience.Shuttlesworth is now residing in a nursing home where his physical condition can be more closely monitored. Many benefits being held throughout the SCLC and Civil Rights Communities are to raise money to enable his family to continue that level of care. Mrs. Shuttlesworth reminisced about her life with her husband and what a leader he had been throughout the modern day civil rights movement. During the program inspirational songs were presented by Mrs. Hicks, Donald Young and James Carter.Gordon gave a short speech, praising Shuttlesworth and all that he had accomplished during his lifetime.