Jackson civil rights leader Shirlene Mercer to be remembered at Wednesday service

Sarah Best, Jackson Sun
Updated ·3 min read
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Shirlene Mercer speaks Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, at the opening of an exhibit at Old Country Store commemorating the 1960 Jackson Woolworth lunch counter sit-ins. Mercer was one of the Lane College Freshman Four who participated in the sit-ins to protest segregation.
Shirlene Mercer speaks Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, at the opening of an exhibit at Old Country Store commemorating the 1960 Jackson Woolworth lunch counter sit-ins. Mercer was one of the Lane College Freshman Four who participated in the sit-ins to protest segregation.

As Jacksonians continue to mourn the recent death of civil rights trailblazer Shirlene Ross Mercer, her funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. The event is open to the public, according to the Mercer Brothers Funeral Home, which is organizing the service.

The community gathered for Mercer's visitation at Greater St. Luke’s Church on Tuesday afternoon to pay their respects and honor the legacy of the local civil rights leader, who paved the way for change.

More: Shirlene Mercer, civil rights trailblazer, dies

A student at Lane College during the height of the Civil Rights Movement in the early 1960s, Mercer, along with fellow Lane students Kimmie Davis, Ernest Brooks Sr., and Wesley McClure, made history with their participation in sit-in protests at the "whites only" lunch counter at a local Woolworth's, challenging segregation. The foursome were dubbed the "Freshman Four" ever after, leaving a legacy of bravery in Jackson.

Shirlene Mercer, one of the "four freshmen" of Lane College, who was an activist in the civil rights movement in 1960s.
Shirlene Mercer, one of the "four freshmen" of Lane College, who was an activist in the civil rights movement in 1960s.

A trailblazer for change, her passion for equality and courage to lead the fight for freedom led to a lifelong dedication to community activism.

She organized anti-crime marches in Jackson among other activities after serving as an educator for 24 years.

More on Mercer: 'A legacy of being involved': Jackson civil rights leaders' impact still felt today

Mercer went on to become a key figure in the Jackson community as a civic volunteer, leader and activist.

After graduating from Lane College, she became a school teacher in Missouri before later moving back to Tennessee, where she taught at Hardeman County for 24 years. She served as president of the Hardeman County Teacher’s Association; was a member of the Minority Affair Council and the 7th District Representative of the Tennessee T-Pace Council, representing 17 West Tennessee counties of the Tennessee Education Association.

In 1989, Mercer became director of District Services for Congressman John Tanner.

She was inducted into the Boys & Girls Clubs 2019 Hall of Fame for her dedication to improving her community and the lives of young people.

She is the past chairperson and first Woman Chairman of the Board of West Tennessee Healthcare, past board chair of the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson, past board member of the YMCA, past chairperson of the board of the Jackson Area Council on Drugs and Alcohol, past vice chair of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Tennessee Hospital Association, a member of the Tennessee Governance Board and the American Hospital Association’s Metropolitan Board, a member of West Star, a leadership program of the University of Tennessee at Martin, and the Citizens Police Academy.

Mercer also served as co-chair of the Jackson Leadership Council, which she created, organized, and participated in weekly anti-crime marches. Since becoming a part of the Jackson Leadership Council, she has dedicated her time and energy to the work of crime reduction in the city

"Each Friday, Mercer led a band of interested children and adults march into the streets of Jackson bearing their interest in fighting crime and violence at its most grass roots level; that being the community," according to The Boys and Girls Club tribute to Mercer upon her Hall of Fame induction. "The marches have been attended by many notables, including Congressman John Tanner, Vice President Al Gore, Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist, Tennessee Senator Bill Frist, Former NAACP Director Benjamin Hooks, Congressman Harold Ford, Jr., and Nashville Mayor and Governor Phil Bredesen."

Mercer has been featured in USA Today, and the “Highway 5” television special by WMC-TV Memphis.

Mercer has received special recognition from two governors for services to the State of Tennessee after being appointed by Gov. Lamar Alexander to be a representative to the Kettering Research Foundation’s study on education and community and appointed by Gov. Ned McWherter to serve on the state Task Force on Housing.

Kerri Bartlett contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Service for civil rights leader Shirlene Mercer to be held Wednesday