Utah civil rights activist Bettye Gillespie died on Friday, July 2, 2021, at the age of 92 after a long illness. (Courtesy Deon Gillespie)
OGDEN – Utah civil rights leader Bettye Gillespie died on July 2, aged 92, at her home in Ogden after a long illness, her family said Thursday.
Gillespie was the first African American woman to be appointed to the University of Utah’s Board of Trustees and was among the most senior black civil servants at Hill Air Force Base, where she served as the sole equal opportunity director at Hill Air Force Base for over 40 years, and according to hers Family the only female EEO officer in the Air Force Logistics Command.
Gillepsie and her husband James Gillespie were members of the NAACP and served the organization on several levels. James Gillespie served as President of the NAACP Ogden Branch, along with Bettye Gillespie, who served as the branch’s youth leader. The couple have worked their entire lives to overcome racial, economic and gender stereotypes, the family said.
In addition to her work at the Ogden NAACP, Gillespie initiated voter registration drives and ran her own children door-to-door to register voters.
“Bettye left Utah a much fairer, more inclusive, and more beautiful place than she found it. Her own beauty was only matched by her kindness, compassion, and generosity. She was loved in this community and beyond. That love lives on her remarkable legacy continues, ”said Gillespie’s daughter Deon in a press release.
Gillespie moved to Utah as a young girl when her father worked for the Union Pacific Railroad.
Gillespie graduated from Ogden High School at age 15 and then earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in sociology from Howard University, a historically black college in Washington, DC. She later earned a Masters in Political Science and Masters in Human Resource Management from the University of Utah.
A memorial scholarship fund was established at the University of Utah in honor of Bettyes.
In addition to her involvement in Ogden NAACP, Gillespie was involved in YCC (formerly YWCA); League of Women Voters; Habitat for Humanity, where she served one term as president; and the Ogden Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, where she was a founding member and two-year president.
Her honors include: the Black Pioneers in Utah Award from the Ogden Area Community Action Agency; the Juneteenth Legacy of Freedom Award; Non-profit award of the minority bar association; Delta Sigma Theta Women Make a Difference Statue; NAACP Rosa Parks Award and Honorary Award from the University of Utah.
Gillespie is survived by her daughters Shauna Gillespie-Ford and Deon Gillespie; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“Bettye dedicated herself (and her family) to fighting inequality wherever it existed. Their great intellect, sharp wit and uncompromising spirit have made a lasting impression not only in Utah but across the country, ”the family said in a press release.
A viewing will take place on July 13th from 6pm to 8pm at Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Boulevard in Ogden. The next day at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 2374 Grant Ave. in Ogden, a celebration of life will take place at 1 p.m., which will also be broadcast live.
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