A Tribute to Delores Brown Orey

NAACP Youth Leaders pay tribute to Women in the NAACP during Black History Month. This tribute is submitted on behalf of Jessica Orey.

A concerned resident of Mississippi, this determined mother of eight became adament about the disparate treatment that she and other African American Mississippians received. During that time she joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People under the leadership of Dr. Aaron Henry, who later became very dedicated to the NAACP and served the organization in various capacities. She worked as Secretary in the NAACP State Office and the driver of Dr. Henry, taking him around the State to investigate discrimination complaints. She was spied on by the State Sovereignty Commission as she helped organize Voter Registration Drives and Boycotts. An open invitation was given and accepted by Freedom Riders both Black and White to stay at her home even under the threat of violence and started a Freedom School at her church, Mt. Nebo. Her presence was known throughout the city as she attended and helped organize many marches for Civil Rights alongside Medgar Wiley Evers, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rev. Jessie Jackson, Sr. to name a few. She also ran for the Mississippi House of Representatives, and unfortunately her opponent was killed in an airplane crash. The governor on record appointed a white male who had lost the race rather than follow protocol which would have allowed her to assume the post. In her continuing quest for equality,she used her children to integrate the Jackson Public Schools.

Because of her activism on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised, she developed a special relationship with former President Jimmy Carter and was invited to represent Mississippi in his inaugural parade. She was a close confidant of former Governor Cliff Finch and this led to her oldest son, Alfonso and his wife, Sadie becoming the first Blacks to have an official wedding ceremony on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion. She was one of the first Head Start Directors for Mississippi Action for Progress and worked for the MS Council on Aging and was an active AARP Volunteer. She loved children and served as NAACP State Youth Advisor for several terms. She mentored many young people among them our immediate past NAACP National President, Benjamin Todd Jealous and our current Mississippi State Conference, President, Derrick Johnson. To continue her legacy, she purchased crisis magazines and memberships as birthday and Christmas gifts for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren along with their attendance to branch  and state meetings along with National Conventions.  She has been credited with maintaining the Jackson Branch NAACP through the years by serving in all capacities from President, to Treasurer, to Secretary. As a unsung, silent civil rights legend, and woman of the NAACP (lifetime member), we salute, the late Mrs. Delores Brown Orey. My grandmother taught me so many things through her courageous leadership in her community. The greatest thing that she taught me was to never stand down to injustices around you. She taught me that if you know it's wrong you  speak on it, no matter how great the threats may be. She led in a time when things were so difficult for black people to live let alone challenge the system. The greatest gift she gave to me was to know that you can not lead if you are afraid, to trust that our god is a just god, and he will protect you when doing his work.