C. T. Vivian

C. T. Vivian
C. T. Vivian in September 2015
Born
Cordy Tindell Vivian

(1924-07-30)July 30, 1924
DiedJuly 17, 2020(2020-07-17) (aged 95)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Resting placeWestview Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia
Occupations
  • Minister
  • author

Cordy Tindell Vivian (July 30, 1924 – July 17, 2020) was an American minister, author, and close friend and lieutenant of Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement. He resided in Atlanta, Georgia, and founded the C. T. Vivian Leadership Institute, Inc. He was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.[1]

Senator Barack Obama, speaking at Selma's Brown Chapel on the March 2007, anniversary of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches, referred to Vivian in his opening remarks in the words of Martin L. King Jr. as "the greatest preacher to ever live."[2]

  1. ^ "Civil rights veterans join Martin Luther King Jr.'s fraternity; Alpha Phi Alpha holds initiation ceremony in Atlanta". Alpha Phi Alpha. December 10, 2010. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  2. ^ DuBois, Joshua. (January 5, 2014) "Keeping Tabs on Obama’s Church Attendance Is No Way to Gauge His Faith". Politics section. The Daily Beast. retrieved August 10, 2014.