Frederick D. Reese

Biography

Frederick D. Reese, an educator and civil rights leader, helped lead the Selma Teachers Association in demanding full voting rights in 1965 and welcomed national organizers to amplify the voices of his students, making Selma a turning point in the struggle for equality. Committed to both the classroom and the cause, he believed that teaching and activism were inseparable, lifting up the dignity of every person in his charge.

Later he continued to mentor young people, drawing on decades of experience in both education and ministry, and encouraged others to keep faith with the dream of fairness. He rests at Serenity Memorial Gardens, where many remember the courage and conviction he modeled.