Dorothy Thomas Stone (affectionately called Ms. Stone) was born on January 7, 1925 and transitioned on February 6, 2014. She was the proud and loving mother of seven children, 19 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. She was a lifelong native of Phoenix, Louisiana (Plaquemines Parish).
Ms. Stone was a dedicated community organizer in Plaquemines Parish and was a loud voice against racism in Plaquemines Parish.
In 1969, without any fear of Segregationist/dictator Leander Perez, she networked with the NAACP and filed a discrimination suit against the Plaquemines Parish School Board for suspending her son Tyronne Edwards from school for wearing an Afro hair style. Her famous words to the Superintendent were, “I will not let you put Tyronne head on a silver plate.” After a year of back and forth to court, on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 1970, Federal Judge Heebee successfully ruled in Ms. Stone’s favor. Tyronne was readmitted back in school under a Judge’s court watch and warning to all teachers and School Board and Parish officials.
Ms. Stone was active in the Phoenix High School PTA and led organizing activities to better textbooks, funding, school lighting and black tar road and parking lot. She was a Black Panther mother, all three of her sons were members. Two of her sons became political prisoners. Ms. Stone said that experience changed her views about the United States Government and the media.
In 1980, she joined the Fishermen & Concerned Citizen Association (FCCA) civil rights organization. She served on the Board of Directors and later became Office Manager. She served on the Plaquemines Community Action Board, and attended all of Plaquemines Parish Government meetings, where she advocated for the needs of her community.
Through the FCCA she met Jim Dunn and Ron Chisom, before PISAB was formed. She served on the United Methodist Voluntary Services on Riverside Drive in New York. She traveled to New York with Jim and Ron to every meeting. Ms. Stone became friends with Ann Braden after Ann stayed at her home in Plaquemines Parish. Via the People’s Institute, she met Angela Davis, whom she admired when her sons were political prisoners, before Angela’s arrest.
She would yearly lobby Louisiana Congressional members in Washington, D.C. with Catholic Charities of New Orleans.
Ms. Dorothy T. Stone’s greatest achievement was helping her community in Plaquemines Parish to get a sense of their own power.
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