Written by Tanya Terry
Featured photo: Dr. E. Hill De Loney was the recipient of multiple national and local Lifetime Achievement Awards. Some of her accomplishments include helping to establish the Freedom Schools, changing the lives of gang members by taking them to Africa and improving the lives of the people of Haiti. Photo provided by DeWaun E. Robinson.
Dr. E. Hill De Loney, who was known as the Queen of Flint Juneteenth, died around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 9. Her death occurred about a month and a half after having a stroke.
But De Loney lived 85 fascinating years of life, and the impact she has had on others will last for many years to come!
In De Loney’s early years, due to segregation, her schools and neighborhoods were all Black. She traveled from Mississippi to Michigan.
“She was always taught to love herself and honor the skin she was in,” said Traditional Flint Juneteenth Chair DeWaun E. Robinson.
Along with the Black social workers, De Loney established Flint Juneteenth 52 years ago. Robinson noted the purpose was to bring Black awareness, to help people understand their culture and to provide the history Blacks needs in America. Robinson added this provides a sense of empowerment.
De Loney was the president of the Flint NAACP for 30 years. She also helped establish Kwanzaa in Flint for the past 30 years.
Robinson said by De Loney helping to introduce the history of Blacks, it allows Black Americans to understand themselves as “much more than 400 years of slavery.”
Robinson compared a person who doesn’t know his or her history to “a tree without roots.”
“I wouldn’t be the man that I am today if it wasn’t for her,” Robinson stated when talking about De Loney.
When Robinson returned from living in Detroit 10 years to his birthplace in Flint in 2012, he wanted to help his city. According to Robinson, De Loney saw something in Robinson at that he didn’t even see in himself!
“So, she spent day in and day out just teaching, as a mentor does.”
Eight years ago, De Loney granted Robinson the opportunity to become the Traditional Flint Juneteenth chair.
“She felt it was necessary for me to carry on the torch for generations to come.”
Robinson said he will take De Loney’s remains to Egypt to be spread throughout the country.
Dr. Tiffany Quinn met De Loney in 1989. Quinn remembers De Loney as a remarkable social worker and advocate for social justice.
“She was a trailblazing figure in the field of social work, and her dedication to mentoring women and children against the impact of poverty on mental health was truly inspiring,” said Quinn. “Her pioneering work in developing community-based intervention programs and her instrumental role in advocating for legislation to protect vulnerable populations left an indelible mark on the social work profession.”
Quinn added De Loney’s passing is a significant loss to this community and to Black social workers, as well as to the broader fight for social justice.
“Her commitment to grassroots activism and the power of community-led initiatives continues to guide my work and the work of many others,” stated Quinn.
Quinn talked to the Courier about how De Loney would send all the members of a group Quinn was part of a daily prayer text message, even when De Loney was a “text savvy” 84-year-old.
“While we face challenges without her leadership, her legacy inspires us to persist in our efforts to create a more just and equitable society.”
De Loney is credited with having a positive impact on the lives and careers of Former Flint Mayor James A. Sharp, Former Flint Mayor Dr. Karen Weaver and Former Flint City Councilman Eric Mays.
Among the family De Loney leaves behind are her son Luther Hill Jr., her grandchildren Luther Hill III and her two deeply loved great grandchildren. She was also spiritually connected to Robinson’s two children and numerous others.
