Photos: Rev. Joseph Lowery stood up to racism, stood next to presidents

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Photos: Rev. Joseph Lowery stood up to racism, stood next to presidents

A look back at the life of Rev. Joseph Lowery, who died on Friday, March 27, 2020.

Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery is all smiles as he arrives to celebrate his 94th birthday on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015 in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Lowery (middle) sits with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (left) and Wyatt Tee Walker at the First African Baptist Church during an SCLC convention in Richmond. File photo

Lowery (right) sits with Martin Luther King III (left) and Coretta Scott King at the Jericho City of Praise church Saturday during the inauguration celebration for President Bill Clinton in 1993. (Photo by Rick McKay/Washington Bureau)

Rev. Joseph Lowery greets President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, at funeral service for Coretta Scott King in 2006. President George Bush and his wife Laura are at Lowery's left. (RENEE HANNANS HENRY/AJC staff)

Lowery (left) meets with President Jimmy Carter in 1980 at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jim Wilson, File)

Rev. Joseph Lowery and wife Evelyn pose for a photo in 2013. BRANT SANDERLIN /BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

President Barack Obama presents a Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rev. Joseph Lowery in 2009. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Lowery (left) and Andrew Young (right) flank Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy during a news conference in 1968. (AP Photo)

The Rev. Joseph Lowery gestures as he speaks to marchers during a 2005 rally on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, Ala., for the finale of the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march re-enactment. (AP Photo/Kevin Glackmeyer)

Rev. Jesse Jackson hugs Dr. Joseph E. Lowery in 1997 at the 40th anniversary program of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). (AJC Staff Photo/Mark Adams)

Rev. Joseph Lowery, president of the SCLC, carries a cross from Woodruff Park to the office of Attorney General Mike Bowers during a march against racism and the death penalty in 1987. (RICH ADDICKS/AJC staff)

President George Bush rests his head on the shoulder of Rev. Joseph Lowery at the funeral service for Coretta Scott King, wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Feb. 7, 2006. (RENEE HANNANS HENRY/AJC staff)

Rev. Joseph Lowery takes a call while getting his hair cut at Burden's Barber Shop in Atlanta in 2011. Phil Skinner / pskinner@ajc.com

Rev. Joseph Lowery speaks at the Butler Street YMCA's Hungry Club in 2004 (Renee' Hannans/AJC staff)

The Rev. Joseph Lowery answers a reporter's question during a press conference concerning religious freedom in the U.S. in 1985. (Rick McKay / Cox Washington Bureau

Rev. Joseph Lowery walks arm-in-arm with his wife Evelyn down Ashby Street between Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard and Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive in Southwest Atlanta in 2001. Ashby Street was being changed to Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard. (CHARLOTTE B. TEAGLE/AJC staff)

Rev. Joseph Lowery led this 1989 march from the ballfields in and around Techwood Homes, singing "up with hope, down with dope" in the effort to end drug dealing in the community. (JOHN SPINK/AJC staff)

Civil Rights leader Rev. Joseph Lowery fires up the crowd at a Democratic election night party in 2008. RICH ADDICKS / raddicks@ajc.com

Rev. Joseph E. Lowery kisses the hand of Ingrid Saunders Jones before ceremonies for the unveiling of the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic site in Atlanta in 2004. (JOEY IVANSCO/AJC staff photo).

With Coretta Scott King behind him, Rev. Joseph Lowery speaks at a 1988 press conference about the anniversary of the 1963 march on Washington, D.C. (JOHNNY CRAWFORD/AJC staff)

Braves outfielder Jason Heyward shares a laugh with Lowery (middle) and Andrew Young during major league baseball's Civil Rights Game at Turner Field in 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com

Lowery (middle) stands with Dr. Ottis W. Smith (left) and Earl Shinhoster (right) as a press conference on minority participation in building the Georgia Dome in 1989. (RICH ADDICKS/AJC staff)

The Rev. Joseph Lowery speaks during the Coretta Scott King funeral ceremony in 2006 as President Bush and his wife Laura look on. (AP Photo/Pool, Jason Reed)

Civil Rights leader Rev. Joseph Lowery fires up the crowd at a Democratic party in 2008. RICH ADDICKS / raddicks@ajc.com

Rev. Joseph Lowery in a portrait session at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution photo studio in 2008. Pouya Dianat / AJC

Rev. Joseph Lowery speaks during a prayer vigil in 2014 in Atlanta. . PHOTO / JASON GETZ

The silhouette of Rev. Joseph Lowery is shown as he speaks during a prayer vigil in 2014 in Atlanta. PHOTO / JASON GETZ

The Rev. Joseph Lowery shares a laugh with attendee Jacquelyn Simmons after she gave him a kiss on the cheek during his 96th Birthday Tribute on October 4, 2017 in Atlanta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Lowery (second from left) locks arms with others including Coretta Scott King (fourth from left) as they pass the state Capitol in Atlanta in a protest march against war, violence and racial repression in 1970. (AP Photo, File)

Actor Jamie Foxx (right) kneels next to Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery during a tribute to Lowery on his 92nd birthday in 2013.JONATHAN PHILLIPS / SPECIAL

Attendees pose for photos with Lowery during an event celebrating Lowery's birthday in 2015 in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Lowery wipes his eyes during presentations while he celebrates his 94th birthday at an event in 2015 in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Ambassador Andrew Young (left) and Lowery get together in 2017. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Rev. Lowery speaks at his 94th birthday celebration in 2015. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Lowery (middle) looks on as Tyler Perry (right) accepts the inaugural Joseph E. Lowery Agent of Change Award during Lowery's 92nd birthday celebration at Morehouse College in 2013. JONATHAN PHILLIPS / SPECIAL

Lowery (left) holds the hand of Nelson Mandela during the morning services at the Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta in 1993. AP photo

Rev. Joseph E. Lowery speaks at a 2013 event in Atlanta announcing state lawmakers from around the county have formed an alliance they say will combat restrictive voting laws. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

Rev. Joseph E. Lowery speaks at the National Press Club in Washington in 2008. In the background is an image of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

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Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery is all smiles as he arrives to celebrate his 94th birthday on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015 in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

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