Remembering Ms. Loretta, “the Bible of Lawrenceville”

We’re sad to share that Loretta Millender, who was known as the “Bible of Lawrenceville,” passed away Tuesday 12/6/22 at home after battling cancer for many months. A longtime Lawrenceville resident who helped found Lawrenceville United in 2001 and stayed involved through our 20+ years as an organization, Ms. Loretta was a true community builder: an incredible champion for Lawrenceville, a longtime civil rights activist across many causes, a cornerstone of her Trinity Baptist Church in the 6th Ward, a keeper of neighborhood history, and a devoted and loving family member, friend, and neighbor to so many.

Throughout her many decades in Lawrenceville, she was always bringing people together, finding ways to make the neighborhood a better place, and jumping quickly into action whenever injustice presented itself. She organized with other residents for home repairs and sanitary housing conditions, helped create a new playground for children, exposed and challenged housing discrimination against Black residents, addressed local incidents of police brutality, and shut down 40th Street with a number of moms to demand safer conditions and a crossing guard at the Butler Street intersection for students at Arsenal, among many other causes. Even in her older years, she continued to serve on the LU Board, spoke up at City Council for affordable housing, and helped distribute food to neighbors who needed it. She always had a kind word (“Hey babes!” was her classic greeting) and a hug for everyone.

Local magazine Steel This Magazine began a regular series across issues 5-11 called “Ms. Loretta’s Corner” through which she shared many stories of growing up in Lawrenceville and the causes she was a happy warrior for. You can find those issues online at https://issuu.com/steelthismagazine/docs and they are so worth reading in full!

Loretta’s family has shared that there will be a visitation on Friday 12/16 from 3-7 PM at Trinity Baptist Church in Lower Lawrenceville with a funeral service on Saturday 12/17 at 11 AM at Trinity. Her obituary can be viewed at https://www.dalessandroltd.com/obit…/Loretta-Millender/…

Please join us in sending care to her beloved husband Darrell and the rest of their family, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren during this time. Please also join us in sending gratitude to Ms. Loretta for her many years of service to this community and for the joy and generosity she shared with everyone. May her memory and spirit be an inspiration to us in continuing her example and legacy for many generations!