Home / War and Conflict / MLK Witness Clara Ester Dies at 78
MLK Witness Clara Ester Dies at 78
18 Jul
Summary
- Clara Ester, who saw MLK shot, died July 9th.
- She was 20 when she rushed to MLK's side after the shooting.
- Ester became an activist and later an executive director.
Clara Ester, an activist and eyewitness to the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., died on July 9 at the age of 78. Ester, then a 20-year-old college student, was present at the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968, when King was shot.
She recounted rushing to King's side on the balcony, attempting to assist him and urging others to help staunch the bleeding. Ester shared her vivid memories of King's final moments, including his speech the night before and his apparent foreknowledge of his fate. The trauma of witnessing the event in her hometown deeply affected her.
Ester later moved to Mobile, Alabama, where she dedicated her life to community service, working as a neighborhood organizer and eventually becoming the executive director of the Dumas Wesley Community Center. She also held leadership roles within the United Methodist Church, serving as national vice president of United Methodist Women.
