Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Advertisement
    • Contact Us
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Advertise With Us
    • Home
      • COVID-19 Resource Center
        • Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ PSA Radio
      • Featured
    • News
      • State
      • Local
      • National/International News
      • Global
      • Business
        • Commentary
        • Finance
        • Local Business
      • Investigative Stories
        • Affordable Housing
        • DCS Investigation
        • Gentrification
    • Editorial
      • National Politics
      • Local News
      • Local Editorial
      • Political Editorial
      • Editorial Cartoons
      • Cycle of Shame
    • Community
      • History
      • Tennessee
        • Chattanooga
        • Clarksville
        • Knoxville
        • Memphis
      • Public Notices
      • Women
        • Let’s Talk with Ms. June
    • Education
      • College
        • American Baptist College
        • Belmont University
        • Fisk
        • HBCU
        • Meharry
        • MTSU
        • University of Tennessee
        • TSU
        • Vanderbilt
      • Elementary
      • High School
    • Lifestyle
      • Art
      • Auto
      • Tribune Travel
      • Entertainment
        • 5 Questions With
        • Books
        • Events
        • Film Review
        • Local Entertainment
      • Family
      • Food
        • Drinks
      • Health & Wellness
      • Home & Garden
      • Featured Books
    • Religion
      • National Religion
      • Local Religion
      • Obituaries
        • National Obituaries
        • Local Obituaries
      • Faith Commentary
    • Sports
      • MLB
        • Sounds
      • NBA
      • NCAA
      • NFL
        • Predators
        • Titans
      • NHL
      • Other Sports
      • Golf
      • Professional Sports
      • Sports Commentary
      • Metro Sports
    • Media
      • Video
      • Photo Galleries
      • Take 10
      • Trending With The Tribune
    • Classified
    • Obituaries
      • Local Obituaries
      • National Obituaries
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Community

    Celebrating the Life and Liberation of Leo Kwame Lillard

    Sandra Long WeaverBy Sandra Long WeaverDecember 28, 2020Updated:January 4, 2021No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Pinterest Tumblr Reddit Email
    Civil Rights Activist Kwame Leo Lillard
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    By Sandra Long Weaver
    Tribune Editorial Director

    Nashville TN (TN Tribune)–Mr. Leo Kwame Lillard would have wanted us to understand the importance and value of liberation, Rev. Kelly Miller Smith Jr. told the family and friends who gathered Monday, Dec. 28 at First Baptist Church Capitol Hill to celebrate his life of activism.

    Mr. Lillard, 81, died on Sunday, Dec. 20. He was one of the few 1960 sit-in protestors who was still living in Nashville. He also was one of the founders of the African American Cultural Alliance, the annual African street festival, the annual Kwanzaa celebration and led the fight to preserve Fort Negley. He also served on the Metro
    council.

    “Leo was like John the Baptist, trying to be that way maker, trying to clear the path for others to get there,” said Rev. Smith who wore a daishiki during the eulogy in honor of Mr. Lillard’s life. Those in attendance also wore masks and were socially distanced throughout the church. “I’ve known Leo most of my life,” Rev. Smith said. “I
    realized the importance of liberation from him. He worked tirelessly for liberation and it is important for us to understand the value of liberation. It also teaches us about salvation.”

    He didn’t have a lot of pretense about who he was, Rev. Smith said. First, “he would have said to us to keep it simple. John the Baptist did what was necessary” and Mr. Lillard did also. Simplicity has its merits, its value.

    “Secondly, make sure we pursue our calling. Go and preach in the wilderness. Leo understood that’s what God had called him to do,” Rev. Smith said.

    Any jobs he had were tangential to that calling, Rev. Smith said. “He understood that he needed to be focused on what he had to do. He was a freedom rider, he fought for Fort Negley, the naming of Martin Luther King Jr. street.”

    Mr. Lillard “could never be accused that he wasn’t doing what he was called to do” he said. “We need everybody to do what they are called to do,” he said during the passionate eulogy that was interrupted by applause several times.
    Finally, you have to be wilderness voices. John was a wilderness voice. He was not caught up in the day to day, Rev. Smith said. “We who are people of color been in the wilderness a long time,”Rev. Smith said.

    “Leo did his job. He worked long and hard and is deserving of his rest. Those of us who are still here, still have to work. We have to speak truth to power and speak in such a way trying to make a difference. Take it from Leo Lillard.”

    Nashville Mayor John Cooper said Mr. Lillard understood how great it is to be at the corner of I-65 and I-40 and look up and see what was built and to understand that struggle for freedom.

    “Fort Negley was built by African Americans and UNESCO has recognized it as an important site,” Cooper said. “That’s how I want to honor Kwame’s legacy. I want to restore Fort Negley to what it should be.” He added the he would be calling on Metro council members to help.

     

    The service was also posted on the church’s Facebook page shortly after it ended. It could not be live streamed because of the damage to the internet service in the explosion on Christmas morning.

    Kwame Leo Lillard Metro City Councilman Nashville sit-in
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Sandra Long Weaver
    • Website

    Related Posts

    This Alabama City’s First-Ever Black Councilwoman Receives Letter Calling Her N-Word, and That’s Not All

    June 17, 2025

    Nashville Hispanic Chamber Joins U.S. Global Leadership Coalition at 2025 Impact Forum in D.C.

    June 16, 2025

    Donald Trump is the first president in 116 years to not be invited to the NAACP convention

    June 16, 2025

    Waterfest Returns to Goodlettsville: Free Family Festival Celebrates Local Rivers

    June 16, 2025

    The Joys of Being Raised by an Exceptional Black Father

    June 14, 2025

    Tennessee House Democrats Send Condolences to MN Shooting Victims

    June 14, 2025

    Comments are closed.

    Business

    FUNdraising Good Times Report from Neighborhoods USA Conference in Jacksonville

    June 4, 2025

    Flower Child Restaurant to Open June 24 in Franklin

    June 4, 2025

    FUNdraising Good Times Survival through partnerships, collaborations, and mergers

    May 14, 2025
    1 2 3 … 383 Next
    Education
    Education

    MTSU Board of Trustees approves tuition, fee increase for new academic year

    By adminJune 17, 2025

    Still expected to remain lowest among state’s three largest public universities MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State…

    Can Black Teacher Pipelines Survive Trump’s Attacks?

    June 12, 2025

    Meharry Expands Into Memphis With Training Site at Mississippi Boulevard Church

    June 9, 2025

    ‘Lives will be impacted’: TSU proposes staffing, scholarship cuts to stay open

    June 8, 2025
    The Tennessee Tribune
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Store
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact
    © 2025 The Tennessee Tribune - Site Designed by No Regret Media.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Our Spring Sale Has Started

    You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/