St. Luke honors ‘grandmother of Juneteenth’ Opal Lee for Senior Saints of Wisdom Sunday

St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church celebrated Black History Month on Sunday with dance performances from senior congregants, rousing choir songs, and a conversation with famed local activist Opal Lee.

Lee, 97, is often called the “grandmother of Juneteenth.” She is known for marching from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C. in 2016 at 89 years old to advocate for the day to become a national holiday. Her activism led to Juneteenth’s official designation in 2021, when Lee was 94. That year, Lee was named The Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year.

St. Luke’s conversation Sunday with Lee was a part of their annual Senior Saints of Wisdom Sunday, which features a “This is My Story” talk with an inspiring leader and a celebration of congregants who turned 70 in the previous year. Previous featured speakers have included the late congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk.

Leaning back in her chair in a gray suit, Lee shared stories from her life with a crackling wit and humor. She talked about making just $2,000 a year as an educator and working two jobs from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to support her children. She also shared how she chose to take her historic walk to advocate for Juneteenth’s national recognition.

“I just decided, me walking in my little tennis shoes from here to Washington, somebody would take notice,” she said.

Most recently, Lee has been working to see her brainchild, the National Juneteenth Museum, come to fruition. The museum is set to open in Fort Worth in 2024.

“It ain’t no Black museum, it’s not a Texas museum, it’s a national museum,” she said of the project.

Lee also shared words of advice.

“I’d tell my younger self — for heaven’s sakes obey your mother,” she said.

She encouraged young people that’s it’s never too late to get involved in advocacy:

“If we don’t do something about climate change, we’re all going to hell in a handbasket.”

Lee ended with an uplifting message for the audience. “Black Americans… We are Americans. We built this country. So act like it,” she said to a standing ovation.

After the service, St. Luke’s senior pastor Richie Butler spoke with The News about the church’s traditions for its Senior Saints of Wisdom Sunday.

“For Black History Month, we’re always wanting to celebrate and recognize the story of someone who’s African American who is historical or is making history,” he explained.

Butler said he chose to invite Lee this year because “she is a living legend.” “The work that she has done by simply walking to draw attention and awareness around Juneteenth — that is significant, it is huge.”

Butler also talked about the church’s role in sharing Black history.

“I think there is an effort to dismantle historical facts and even just the educational process,” he said, citing recent bans on teaching critical race theory. “We remain persistent and committed that we have to tell the story,” he said of his church.

“Because if we don’t, it could be disregarded, dismantled and could die. We’re committed to not letting our story die.”

Read more about Opal Lee

Opal Lee: The Dallas Morning News 2021 Texan of the Year

Opal Lee, ‘grandmother of Juneteenth’, discusses national museum, legacy of slavery

In 90-degree heat, 96-year-old Opal Lee leads Juneteenth Walk for Freedom in Fort Worth

Fort Worth is getting a national museum celebrating Juneteenth, but there’s drama

Opal Lee among 8 women to be inducted into Texas Women’s Hall of Fame

Opal Lee checks in with Shaquille O’Neal at his electronic dance music festival

Joy Ashford covers faith and religion in North Texas for The Dallas Morning News through a partnership with Report for America.

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