ATLANTA — The Atlanta community is mourning the passing of Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery. The former pastor and civil rights leader died Friday, surrounded by his loved ones.
On Wednesday, the City of Atlanta honored Lowery at City Hall. Mayor Keisha Bottoms ordered flags at half-staff this week to tribute the icon.
“He was a monumental part of our Atlanta community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones,” the City of Atlanta Twitter account posted.
Over the weekend, media mogul Tyler Perry expressed his condolences to Lowery’s family on Instagram. He shared intimate photos of Lowery with former U.S. president Barack Obama.
“As I was going through some of my personal photos I came across a few that I don’t usually make public, but this one said it all. This and the two other pictures were taken in 2012 at my old studio when President Barack Obama, a sitting president, bowed to the greatness of the man who stood before both of us! Presidential humility at its best,” Perry wrote.
The King Center also paid tribute to Lowery with a heartfelt message on Twitter.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. He was a champion for civil rights, a challenger of injustice, a dear friend to the King family,” in its statement.
The Lowery family released a statement that said, in part, "Our family is humbled and blessed by the overwhelming outpouring of love and support. We thank you for loving our father and for your continuous prayers during this time."
The family asked that instead of flowers, people make a donation to the Joseph & Evelyn Lowery Institute For Justice And Human Rights.
The Lowery family will be holding private funeral services.
Due to the current conditions brought about by the coronavirus, the family says a public memorial service for Dr. Lowery is being planned for October 6, 2020 -- on what would have been his 99th birthday.
PHOTOS | Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery, 1921-2020
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