John Perkins, a pioneering pastor and civil rights leader, died Friday at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy of reconciliation and forgiveness, according to family and friends.
A Life Dedicated to Reconciliation
Constance Slaughter-Harvey, who represented Perkins after his brutal torture by Mississippi law enforcement officers in 1969, remembered him as someone “who tried to get the races to come together.” She described his capacity for forgiveness after suffering a severe beating as “extraordinary.”
Perkins passed away under hospice care, and a funeral service is scheduled for March 21 at the New Horizon Church in Jackson.
From Poverty to Purpose
Born in New Hebron in 1930, Perkins experienced hardship early in life, losing his mother to malnutrition and later facing abandonment by his father. His brother, Clyde, fought in World War II and experienced freedoms unavailable to him in segregated Mississippi, but was later the victim of violence. Following warnings from his family, Perkins joined the Great Migration, leaving Mississippi as one of approximately 6 million African Americans seeking opportunity elsewhere.
After marrying his wife in California in 1951 and serving in the Korean War, Perkins found faith when his son, Spencer, sang “Jesus Loves the Little Children” in 1957. He was ordained as a Baptist minister a year later.
Returning to Mississippi
In 1960, Perkins returned to Mississippi with his family and founded Mendenhall Ministries in 1961. This organization grew to encompass a church, daycare, youth program, cooperative farm, thrift store, housing repair ministry, health center, and adult education program. His wife operated the daycare, which later became part of the Head Start program.
Rev. Dolphus Weary, who succeeded Perkins at Mendenhall Ministries and later led Mission Mississippi, noted that Perkins “instilled in us the idea of coming back.”
Facing Adversity and Finding Forgiveness
Perkins organized a voter registration drive in Simpson County in 1965. In 1969, while leading a Christmas boycott protesting the refusal of white businesses to hire Black employees, he and other protesters were arrested and brutally beaten by officers when he went to secure their release. Slaughter-Harvey stated that Perkins was beaten, had his hair cut with dull scissors, and a fork was inserted into his nose.
Despite the severity of the attack, which resulted in a heart attack and the removal of part of his stomach due to ulcers, Perkins held no malice toward his attackers, according to Slaughter-Harvey.
A Legacy of Leadership and Reconciliation
Perkins authored more than a dozen books, including his 1976 memoir, “Let Justice Roll Down,” and his final work, “One Life Well Lived.” He forged an unlikely friendship with former Klansman Tommy Tarrants, chronicled in “The Preacher and the Klansman.” He also served as a religious advisor to President Jimmy Carter and subsequent presidents.
He established the Christian Community Development Association and, in 1992, his teachings contributed to the creation of Mission Mississippi, which promotes racial reconciliation among Christians. The John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation continues to support young leaders dedicated to reconciliation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was John Perkins known for?
John Perkins was known as a pioneering pastor and civil rights leader who dedicated his life to racial reconciliation, forgiveness, and community development.
What happened to John Perkins in 1969?
In 1969, John Perkins was brutally beaten by Mississippi law enforcement officers after leading a Christmas boycott and attempting to bail out protesters who had been arrested.
What is the John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation’s mission?
The John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation works to raise up young leaders dedicated to reconciliation and believes reconciliation is still possible and communities can be restored.
How will Perkins’s commitment to reconciliation continue to inspire future generations?
