Rep. Esther Harrison remembered as champion for justice

Longtime state Rep. Esther Harrison of Columbus died Wednesday morning, the House speaker's office confirmed.

"Lisa and I are saddened to hear about the passing of Rep. Esther Harrison this morning," Speaker Philip Gunn said in a statement. "She had a gentle spirit and will be missed by all."

Harrison, a former teacher and longtime Civil Rights activist who turned 69 on Wednesday, served in the House District 41 seat in Lowndes County since 2000.

Harrison had undergone kidney dialysis for years and had been hospitalized in Jackson recently, then later at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, where she died early Wednesday morning. She is survived by her daughter, Aubra Berenice Givens and grandson, Alex Givens.

Longtime friend Constance Slaughter-Harvey spoke Wednesday on behalf of Harrison's family, and shared memories of her friend.

"We met in 1972, when I had a rape case -- where three white girls accused three black men of rape -- in Columbus," Slaughter-Harvey said. "It was hostile. I had threats on my life. Esther helped me. I stayed in her home. She was terminated as a teacher because of her activism ... She was a gentle spirit who despised injustice of any nature."

Slaughter-Harvey said Harrison "leaves a void, and there's not anybody who can fill it."

"She did not demand credit for anything she did, but she should go down in Mississippi history for work that she did in voter registration, voter education, public education, fighting for (Mississippi University for Women) -- that was one of her schools. She wasn't in the Legislature then, but she was one of the major drum majors, beating the bushes to help pass Gov. Winter's education reform, working with the NAACP and Appalachian Regional Commission."

State Democratic Party Chairman Rickey Cole said Harrison brought "a passion for progress to the House that would remain her constant hallmark."

"She represented her constituents attentively, and she served all Mississippians effectively," Cole said. "Her quiet dignity, even in the face of her final long illness, is a great lesson in strength, endurance and devotion to duty."

Harrison was vice chairwoman of the State Library Committee, and formerly served as chairwoman. She served on Ways and Means, Investigating State Offices, Ports Harbors and Airports and Tourism committees and was a former chairwoman of the House Democratic Caucus.

She was seeking re-election this year, facing Democratic challenger Kabir Karriem, who is now unopposed.

Harrison was an Eastern Star and a member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority, the Lowndes County League of Voters, Helping Hands was a life member of the NAACP and has served as president of the Lowndes County branch.

Arrangements for Harrison are pending.

Contact Geoff Pender at (601) 961-7266 or gpender@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @GeoffPender on Twitter.