Sign of a trailblazer
Free Press staff report | 6/8/2023, 6 p.m.
Several family members, neighbors and friends gathered yesterday for an honorary street renaming of the 5300 block of Marian Street in honor of the late Bettie Elizabeth Boyers Cooper. Mrs. Boyers Cooper was best known for being a plaintiff during the Civil Rights Movement whose federal lawsuit led to the integration of Richmond’s schools.
After Mrs. Boyers Cooper’s legal victory, her daughter, Daisy, was forced to attend Carver Elementary, several miles from her home in Westwood, and not allowed to attend the Westhampton School within walking distance of her home because of segregation policies in the school system. Mrs. Boyers Cooper sued and after several years won her lawsuit, forcing integration of Richmond’s schools.
Mrs. Boyers Cooper’s granddaughter, Kelly Johnson-Crowder, and daughter, Daisy Johnson, and great grandson, Kendall Scott were on hand for the street renaming.
“My grandmother ws a very, very humble person and to see this being done in her honor means everything to me,” said Mrs. Johnson-Crowder. “She was one who always opened her doors to everyone. She always gave the neighborhood kids a a meal, ice cream or whatever she could find. She opened up her home for people to come and stay and let them stay for years, including me.”
Coucilmembers Andreas Addison, 1st District, and Anne-Frances Lambert, 3rd District sponsored the renaming ordinance.
