About Marie Foster
Marie Priscilla Martin Foster (October 24, 1917 – September 6, 2003) was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. during the 1960s. Her successful voter registration in Dallas County, Alabama fueled her to become an activist, and she began teaching adult classes to help people pass the required literacy tests. She was a member of the Dallas County Voters League, the Alabama foot soldier that convinced Martin Luther King Jr. to come to Selma, Alabama and helped organize the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965. Her dedication gave her the moniker "The Mother of the Voting Rights Movement," which was shortened to Mother Foster. == Early life and work == Marie Foster was born Maria Priscilla Martin on October 24, 1917, near Alberta, Alabama in the Black Belt. Like the rest of the South, Wilcox County, Alabama was segregated, and educational opportunities were limited for Black students. Going against her husband, Squire (Square) Martin's wishes, Foster's mother, Virginia Pettiway, moved her and her siblings to Selma to ensure her children got the best education they could. Though her siblings graduated, Foster dropped out after she met James Foster and got married. She had three children, whom she raised alone after her husband, James Foster's death.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.