Fannie Lou Hamer’s Family Suffers Tragic Loss

August 12, 2019 – RULEVILLE, MS

Funeral services were held Saturday, July 20, 2019, in Cleveland, MS., for Lenora Aretha Flakes, granddaughter of civil rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer. Flakes was 53.

Flakes is the second family member of the late civil rights icon to pass away in nearly two years. On October 25, 2017, Vergie Ree Hamer Faulkner, who was also adopted by Hamer and her husband, Perry (Pap), died in Memphis, Tenn. She was 66.

Nicknamed ‘Nook’ by Pap, Flakes and her sister, Jacqueline (Cookie), were adopted as infants by the Hamers after the death of their mother, Dorothy Jean Hamer Hall. Hamer was unable to have children after a forced hysterectomy and adopted both Vergie and Dorothy, who were relatives, as infants. Dorothy died at the age of 22 on May 24, 1967.

Flakes is survived by her husband, Kirk, two sons, David and Daniel, and her sister, Jacqueline.

Adopted as children by Pap and Fannie Lou Hamer, Lenora Flakes (far right) and Vergie Hamer Faulkner (second from left) are pictured with other family members at the unveiling of Hamer's statue in October 2012. (Photo courtesy of Fannie Lou Hamer's America)

Pictured with an unidentified man and Fannie Lou Hamer, Lenora (second from right) and her sister, Jacqueline (right) were raised by Hamer and her husband, Pap. (Photo courtesy of the Jean Sweet Collection)