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Maxine Smith, 83, died April 26 after a long illness. Born Georgia Maxine Atkins, Smith graduated from Spelman College and later received her master's degree from Middlebury College in Vermont. Known as the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement" in Memphis, Smith worked tirelessly to end segregation in education and public facilities in the city. She led a protest against an-all White school board and came up against massive resistance in her efforts to use busing as a way to desegregate Memphis Public Schools.
"A true fighting force of the civil rights and education reform movement has passed on," NAACP chair Roslyn M. Brock said in a statement. "Dr. Maxine Smith's leadership and unyielding faith in equality for...