In Memoriam: Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon
October 4, 1942 – July 16, 2024
by Windy Goodloe, secretary, Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association
Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon is now our ancestor. During her life, she used her strong and beautiful voice to advocate for freedom. In doing so, she showed us what a lifetime committed to justice for all looked like, and she paved the way for others.
In the early 1960s, Dr. Reagon became a founding member of the Freedom Singers, which was organized by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)during the Albany Movement in Georgia. In 1973, she founded Sweet Honey in the Rock, the Grammy-nominated Black female a cappella ensemble. Through music, she and her fellow singers advocated for freedom.
Dr. Reagon harnessed the power of music and knew that it was a powerful tool and catalyst for change. She knew what words, melody, and harmonies could do because she was born into it. On October 4, 1942, Dr. Reagon was born to Beatrice and J.J. Johnson, who was a minister. For Dr. Reagon, school and church, the most important aspects of her young adult life, was filled with song. By the time she began attending Albany State College (now Albany State University), her activism had also been sparked, after witnessing the severe injustices that Black people faced.
Activist said the following about Dr. Reagon: “I remember seeing you lift your beautiful black head, stand squarely on your feet, your lips trembling as the melodious words ‘Over my head, I see freedom in the air’ came forth with an urgency and a pain that brought out a sense of intense renewal and commitment of liberation. And when the call came to protest the jailings, you were up front. You led the line. Your feet hit the dirty pavement with a sureness of direction. You walked proudly onward singing ‘this little light of mine, ‘and the people echoed, ‘shine, shine, shine.’”
And shine Dr. Reagon did. She used her light to illuminate the troubles of this world. She used her light to eliminate the awful and systematic oppression of Black people. She used her light as a beacon, calling all who believed in her cause to gather with her and fight with love, hopefulness, never-ending optimism, and music.
She is survived by her children Toshi and Kwan.
To see and hear some performances of Sweet Honey and the Rock, click here:
Sweet Honey and the Rock on YouTube, perform Ella's Song
