To Lillian Eugenia Smith
Author: King, Martin Luther, Jr.
Date: June 14, 1962
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Genre: Letter
Details
In April 1962, King invited National Book Award-winning author Smith to speak at Ebenezer’s Annual Women’s Day, but, due to the worsened state of her cancer, Smith was unable to attend.1 In the following letter, King offers Smith assistance in whatever way he can and indicates his wish that he and Coretta can visit Smith at her home in Clayton, Georgia, soon.2
Miss Lillian Smith
Box 208
Clayton, Georgia
Dear Lillian:
Thank you for your very kind letter informing me that it would not be possible for you to speak to our congregation in July. Naturally, I understand why you cannot come. I regret so much to hear of your present health situation. Please know that you are constantly in my prayers, and if ever there is anything that I can do to ease the load in any way, do not hesitate to call on me. I am always deeply inspired by your great spirit. In spite of your suffering, you always maintain such a wholesome and creative attitude.
Coretta and I would like to come to Clayton to spend a few hours with you in the not too distant future. I will have to be out of the city for the next two weeks, but I will be in Atlanta most of July.3 If you are home during July, we could plan to come down. At any rate, we will be calling you in a few days concerning this.
Thank you for your constant support. It gives me renewed courage and vigor to carry on.
Sincerely yours,
[signed] Martin
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Km
1. King to Smith, 3 April 1962; Smith to King, 7 May 1962.
2. In a message left with King’s secretary, Smith requested that King visit on 16 July (Dora E. McDonald to King, 10 July 1962).
3. King spent the following weeks at various meetings and speaking engagements across the country. He returned to Atlanta briefly at the beginning of July before returning to Albany to commence demonstrations. On 19 July 1962, King’s secretary Dora McDonald sent Smith a letter saying that King would be writing and visiting her soon.
Source: LSP-GU-HR, Lillian Eugenia Smith Papers, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Ga.