FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Diedra Meredith | info@NewOrleansFourLegacy.com

Phone: 646.436.7928

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 2, 2026

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Dorothy Prevost, Civil Rights Matriarch of New Orleans’ 1960 School Desegregation Movement, to Lie in State at Gallier Hall

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — The City of New Orleans will pause to honor a woman whose quiet courage helped bend the arc of history toward justice. Funeral arrangements have been set for Mrs. Dorothy Prevost, Civil Rights matriarch and the last living parent of the four 6-year-old girls who desegregated New Orleans public schools in 1960.

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Mrs. Prevost passed away on Friday, February 20, 2026, at the age of 94, closing a living chapter of one of the most defining and dangerous battles of the modern Civil Rights Movement.

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Born July 1, 1931, in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans to Arie Wells Mackey and John Mackey, Dorothy Prevost was raised in a neighborhood rich with culture, faith, and fierce resilience. From those roots emerged a woman of quiet resolve, a mother whose strength would one day help transform the educational landscape of an entire city and reverberate across a nation.

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In 1960, amid violent resistance, daily threats, and national scrutiny, Dorothy Prevost made a decision that would require extraordinary bravery. Dorothy, alongside 3 other mothers Eula Mae Etienne, Louise Tate and Lucille Bridges, entrusted their young daughters to walk through schoolhouse doors, knowing the hostility that awaited. At a time when Black women were denied political power, public platforms, and basic protections, these mothers exercised a deeper authority, the moral authority of motherhood and determination. Their courage did not seek attention. It demanded justice.

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On November 14, 1960, their four courageous 6-year-old girls (The New Orleans Four) Tessie Prevost, Gail Etienne, Leona Tate, and Ruby Bridges, walked into history. Escorted by federal marshals through screaming mobs and violent hatred, they became the first Black students to desegregate two all-white public elementary schools in New Orleans, and in the Deep South. Leona Tate, Tessie Prevost, and Gail Etienne desegregated McDonogh 19 Elementary School together. Ruby Bridges enrolled at William Frantz Elementary School.

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Their courage reignited national momentum in the Civil Rights Movement. The images and moral clarity of their sacrifice inspired a generation of young people, helping to set the stage for the 1963 Birmingham Children’s Crusade and intensifying pressure on the federal government to act.

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Their sustained activism culminated in transformative federal legislation: the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed segregation in public accommodations, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which protected Black Americans’ right to vote.

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Mrs. Prevost was the widow of Charles Prevost Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Tory Prevost; son-in-law, D’Wayne Hulbert; two grandchildren, Deja and Derius Hulbert; two godchildren, Kay Jackson and LaDon Kelly; and a host of extended family members. She also leaves behind a city, a state, and a nation still grappling with the unfinished work of educational equity, racial justice, and economic fairness, the very ideals for which she risked everything.

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Her daughter, Tory Prevost, reflected on her mother’s legacy:

“My mother never saw herself as a hero. She saw herself as a mother doing what was necessary to secure a better future for her child and for generations she would never meet. The courage she showed was rooted in faith, love, and an unshakable belief that Black children deserved equal opportunity.

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As we lay my mother to rest during Women’s History Month, my hope is that our city and our nation honor the sacrifice of all four mothers (Dorothy Prevost, Eula Mae Etienne, Louise Tate and Lucille Bridges) of the New Orleans Four. At a time when Black women were denied positions of power and public influence, they embodied a deeper, unshakable kind of power. Their courage did more than open schoolhouse doors, it laid a foundation upon which generations of women now stand, lead, and rise.”

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As the nation observes Women’s History Month, the life of Dorothy Prevost, the last living parent of New Orleans’ 1960 school desegregation era stands as a reminder that history is often moved forward not only by those in elected office or on national stages, but by mothers who dare to challenge injustice for the sake of their children. Her legacy lives on in every classroom made more equitable, every door opened wider, and every woman who steps forward to lead.

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In a joint statement, Civil Rights Pioneers Gail Etienne and Leona Tate said:

“Mrs. Dorothy Prevost was more than a mother, she was a pillar of strength, faith, and unwavering courage during one of the most painful chapters in our city’s history. When we walked into those schools at just 6-years-old, our mothers, Eula Mae Etienne and Louise Tate, stood shoulder to shoulder with her and Lucille Bridges, carrying the weight of a movement on their backs and in their hearts.

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As the last living parent of the New Orleans Four, Mrs. Prevost stood as a living reminder of what moral courage looks like. She represented dignity in the face of hatred and grace under unimaginable pressure. As we honor her life, we honor the sacrifice and love of a mother who, alongside our mothers, helped enforce the promise of the United States Constitution at one of the most volatile moments in American history.”

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The family of Civil Rights Matriarch Dorothy Prevost today formally announces a two-day public commemoration honoring the last living mother of the 1960 New Orleans school desegregation movement.

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In a rare civic tribute, on Friday March 13, 2026, 11AM – 3PM, Mrs. Prevost will lie in state at  Gallier Hall, the historic seat of New Orleans municipal government. The honor places her among a select group of individuals recognized for extraordinary contributions to the life of the city and the nation.

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Saturday March 14, 2026, her funeral service will take place at New Hope Baptist Church. 8AM viewing and the service begins at 9AM.

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Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Charbonnet Labat Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the Prevost family invites the public to support the ongoing educational and preservation work of New Orleans Four LLC, co-founded by Civil Rights Pioneers Gail Etienne and the late Tessie Prevost Williams, by making donations at www.NewOrleansFourLegacy.com.

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New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno stated:

“Sad to hear about the passing of Mrs. Dorothy Prevost, the devoted mother of the late Tessie Prevost and the last living matriarch of the New Orleans Four. Mrs. Prevost carried herself with quiet strength that spoke volumes about the era she helped shape and the sacrifices she endured for our city and our nation.

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I will forever cherish the last moment I spent with her at my Ladies’ Night gathering during Essence Festival last year. Sitting with her, listening to her stories, and simply sharing conversation was one of those rare and humbling moments you hold onto. In her presence, you could feel history, not in a distant way, but in the grace, wisdom, and steadiness of a woman who had lived it. As we mourn her passing, we honor a life defined by faith, resilience, and unwavering love for family and community. New Orleans stands taller because she stood firm. May she rest in eternal peace.”

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Six years after the United States Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, the infamous 1896 case born in New Orleans that legalized “separate but equal”, Dorothy Prevost and three other courageous mothers helped transform constitutional principle into lived reality.

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For more than half a century, Plessy had stood as the legal backbone of segregation across the South. Though Brown struck it down in 1954, resistance was fierce and enforcement slow. It would take families willing to endure hostility, threats, and isolation to make the Court’s ruling real.

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Keith Plessy stated:

“As a descendant of Homer Plessy, I live with the history of a Supreme Court decision that once upheld segregation. Mrs. Dorothy Prevost lived the courage required to help dismantle it. When Brown v. Board of Education overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, the law changed. But it was mothers like Mrs. Prevost who bore the cost of that change. She placed her faith above fear and sent her 6-year-old daughter Tessie into the center of hostility so that future generations, including mine, could live in a more just America.

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Knowing her as a friend made that history personal. She carried no bitterness, only dignity, strength, and grace. Her life reminds us that progress is not inevitable, it is carried forward by ordinary people willing to do extraordinary things. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Prevost family. Her legacy will continue to guide us.”

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Their decision was not symbolic. It was a direct confrontation with a deeply entrenched system of racial segregation in the Deep South.

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The events in New Orleans became a national flashpoint in the ongoing struggle to enforce civil rights law, a test of federal authority, constitutional principle, and human resolve. The upcoming ceremonial honor and funeral service will reflect both the historic magnitude of that moment and the enduring legacy of the women who made it possible.

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State Representative Alonzo Knox issued the following statement:

“I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mrs. Dorothy Prevost, my dear mother-friend and truly the last matriarch of the public school desegregation era in New Orleans.

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Mrs. Prevost embodied a regal class, quiet strength, and sharp intellect that were not only admirable, but necessary for the times she endured. As the mother of the late Tessie Prevost, one of the courageous young girls of the New Orleans Four who desegregated public schools, she did more than witness history; it’s fair to say she gave birth to it.

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I was proud to have Mrs. Prevost join me on the floor of the House of Representatives in 2025 to be recognized during Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Day at the Capitol for her sacrifice and contributions. And I was honored to spend time with her, to listen, to learn, and to feel the grace of a woman whose legacy will live far beyond her years. My heartfelt condolences go out to her family and to the many lives she touched and forever changed.”

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National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial also released a statement:

"It is hard to imagine the courage and conviction it took to send her daughter, Tessie, a tiny first-grader, into the hostility that surrounded the desegregation of New Orleans public schools.  Her work, in advocacy, community organizing, and the relentless pursuit of equality, helped build the foundation on which so many of today’s freedoms stand.

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Dorothy not only believed in the power of ordinary people to effect extraordinary change, she lived it. She showed us progress is not only landmark legislation or historic marches. but daily acts of resistance, dignity, and hope.

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As we honor her memory, we are called to continue the work she began.  Dorothy Prevost leaves behind a legacy of courage and a blueprint for action that will continue to inspire us for decades to come. We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, and the many individuals whose lives she touched. May her spirit continue to guide us toward a more just and equitable society."

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The Prevost family invites everyone to post video, photos, songs, or any kind of virtual tribute to Civil Rights Pioneer Dorothy Prevost via social media using the hashtag:  #DorothyPrevost, #NewOrleansFour,  #WomenOfTheMovement, #AlwaysVote,  #WomensHistoryMonth, or leave a written tribute on the dedicated page on www.NewOrleansFourLegacy.com/DorothyPrevost 

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OFFICIAL CEREMONIAL OBSERVANCES

Friday, March 13, 2026
Gallier Hall — 545 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans

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11:00 AM CT – Police-escorted motorcade arrival.
Mrs. Prevost’s flag-draped casket will be carried by honorable pallbearers and accompanied by a joint ceremonial presence of U.S. Federal Marshals, National Park Service Rangers and Prince Hall Free Masons, a powerful echo of the protection that once safeguarded the New Orleans Four in 1960.

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11:30 AM – 3:00 PM CT – Public viewing as Mrs. Prevost lies in state.

3:00 PM CT – Ceremonial departure from Gallier Hall.

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Saturday, March 14, 2026
New Hope Baptist Church

1807 Reverend John Raphael Jr. Way, New Orleans

8:00 AM CT– Visitation & Public Viewing
9:00 AM CT – Funeral Service

Final Salute – Public Farewell - outside the church following the service.

11:30 AM CT – Funeral March & Second Line
The funeral march will start in front of New Hope Baptist Church with a short procession and end with a second line song to bid farewell.

 

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM CT – Interment
Rising Star Pilgrims Rest Cemetery

1103 Cardinal St. LaPlace, Louisiana

 

1:30 PM CT– Repast
Tate, Etienne, and Prevost Civil Rights Interpretive Center

5909 St. Claude Ave. New Orleans, LA. 70117

 

The Prevost family invites everyone to post video, photos, songs, or any kind of virtual tribute to Civil Rights Pioneer Dorothy Prevost via social media using the hashtag:  #DorothyPrevost, #NewOrleansFour,  #WomenOfTheMovement, #AlwaysVote,  #WomensHistoryMonth, or leave a written tribute on the dedicated page on www.NewOrleansFourLegacy.com/DorothyPrevost