Activist, educator Mattie B. Dennis dies

Mattie Catherine Bivins Dennis who taught in the Orleans Parish School System for almost 30 years, died on October 25, 2018, in Houston, Texas. She was 78.

A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Ms. Bivins Dennis graduated from Tougaloo College. Obtaining her degree took a little longer than usual, however because, in 1961, she paused her college education and joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) of Mississippi where she participated in boycotts and registering Blacks to vote.

She was married to David J. Dennis Sr., who was field secretary for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in Mississippi. A daughter, Erika was borne from that union.

MATTIE B. DENNIS

Ms. Bivins Dennis was an active member of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church during her years in New Orleans. She taught Sunday School and New Members Training Classes.

She was preceded in death by her parents D.K. Bivins Sr. and Jessie Mae Bivins, brothers D.K. Bivins Jr. and John Albert Bivins, and niece Caroline Brock.

She leaves to mourn her daughter, Erika Dennis Young (Brian); brother Frank Douglas Bivins (Patricia); two grandchildren, Jalen Christopher Young and Julian Miles Young; nieces, Cheryll Lewis, Renita Bivins, Redonda Bivins, Redena Bivins Hicks (Ricky), LaJohn Bivins Pollitt (Anthony), Teri Stepter, Kimberly Thomas (Darryl), Tasha Bivins, Matiko Bivins Austin (Marcus), and Demetre Bivins.

Funeral services were held at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Ms. On November 2. Interment is at Forrest Lawn Cemetery in Hattiesburg, Ms.

This article originally published in the November 5, 2018 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.