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- Jackson Advocate, Mississippi ? Thursday, 10 March 2011
L.D. Bass Fought the ?good fight?
The NAACP, SCLC and other civil rights groups know all too well the good work of Rev. L.D. Bass. The freedom fighter's good fight came to an end in the wee hours of March 3, 2011. He was 78. A memorial service will be held Friday, March 11 at 11 a.m. at Black's Chapel, 3425 Robinson St. in Jackson. Viewing will be Thursday, March 10 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Westhaven Funeral Home, 3580 Robinson St. "Rev. Bass was a grassroots leader and foot soldier for justice. I always greeted him as 'My Minister'. He greeted me by saying, 'Hey there, Sojourner Truth.' Other times he called me 'Harriet Tubman,'" remarked Kathy Sykes. "Rev. Bass loved his people and did not care who knew it! He attended all protests and rallies and his speech would go like this, 'If I had a hammer, I would hammer out prejudice, I would hammer out injustice, I would hammer out love, I would hammer, hammer, hammer!!!' I love and will truly miss, 'My Minister', Rev. L. D. Bass!! "Leffie Daniel Bass Jr. was the third of twelve children born to L.D. Sr. and Fannie (Traxler) Bass. The family lived in Simpson County, MS. A student at Mary C. Jones Head Start and CM&I College, Rev. Bass furthered his education at the University of Michigan, receiving certification in government. In 1953, he entered the Army and was stationed at Fort Hood, TX. He served in Korea, and for his gallantry, he received the title of Corporal and two of the highest honors ? the Korean Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He received an honorable discharge in 1955 from Fort Riley, Kansas. Moving from one battlefield to the next, Rev. Bass took his place in the Civil Rights Movement upon returning home. He participated in numerous protests and marches; marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers. He continued to fight for equality of Africans in the American society until his health failed. "I'll never forget the night when the Ayers rally turned into an all night demonstration. It wasn't supposed to be an all-nighter but the students were fired up," recalled Rep. Jim Evans. "I saw all these students and only a few adults. I kept looking at the back gate and wished there was somebody to guard it. As soon as I looked up, I saw Rev. Bass drive up with a carload of help. He was a strong soldier, a dependable soldier and a great leader." It was 1959 when Rev. Bass got the call to preach. His ministry positively impacted his family ? wife Jeanette and three sons: L.D. III, Bernard and Jabbar; his church families ? Lloyd's Chapel and Mount Calvary, both in Jackson; and the larger community. "Rev. Bass is largely responsible for the amount of progress Jackson has made. He made sure that we embraced a process that would enable us to have a black mayor and black representation throughout the county. He served his community with distinction," noted Councilman Kenneth I. Stokes, Ward 3.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1933 - 2011 (78 years)