Jackson Free Press

During the violent, bloody days of the civil rights movement in Mississippi, Freedom Rider Jimmie Travis nearly lost his life. In February 1963, Travis, then 20, was driving a car outside Greenwood with Bob Moses, leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and Randolph Blackwell, voter registration director of the Voter Education Project.

"It was about 10:30 p.m., and there was a good deal of traffic on the road. As the traffic began to thin, the Buick (containing three white men and that had been following them) pulled up alongside and then came the deafening sound of gunfire. Thirteen 45-calibre (sic) bullets ripped through the car shattering the front left window, missing Bob Moses and Randolph Blackwell by inches, smashing through the window on the other side. Two bullets hit Jimmy Travis. The Buick sped off, and Moses grabbed the controls to pull the car to a stop as Travis crouched in his seat, bleeding," Howard Zinn writes in "SNCC: The New Abolitionists."

Travis survived the assassination attempt, though the surgeon who removed the bullets said just a little more force would have killed him instantly.

Undeterred, Travis continued his fight for equality in Mississippi, his home. He was a member of the SNCC, and spoke widely about his experience, standing as an example that fear need not rule the lives of African Americans and those that stand with them. His inspiration came from his late parents, Jessie and Fannie Travis, and late father-in-law Rev. R.S. Porter Sr., all of whom worked for civil rights under extremely dangerous conditions and at risk for their lives.

Most recently, Travis served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement.

"Today, I challenge our contemporary heroes/heroines to continue to empower youth and young people to join the current movement for change in Mississippi and all across our nation," Travis wrote. Throughout his life, Travis believed educating voters on the "real" issues was essential.

Jimmie Travis, born Oct. 8, 1942, died yesterday at 3:30 p.m. His wife, Rev. Annie Travis, pastor of Kynette & Crump Chapel United Methodist Church in Brookhaven, five children—Lailah, Omar, Clara, Abdullah and Muneerah—and five grandchildren survive him.

His funeral will take place Friday, July 31, at Anderson UMC Church, 6205 Hanging Moss Road. The family hour is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., and funeral services begin at 1 p.m. Cook Funeral Home (2110 JR Lynch Street, 601-353-2288) will handle the arrangements.

Contributions should be sent directly to the Travis family, c/o Rev. Annie Travis, 5348 Cedar Park Drive, Jackson, Miss. 39206.