Jefferson Diggs
Civil Rights activist
Jefferson Diggs, a community liaison for Councilmember Leroy Comrie’s office, passed away on April 13. He was 74 years old.
“On behalf of my family and staff, I want to extend my sincerest and deepest condolences to Jeff’s wife, Sonya and his entire family,” said Comrie. “I was honored that despite a lifetime of public service, Jeff chose to continue to stay in that service by serving as a community liaison on my staff when I was elected to office in 2001.”
Born in Gary, WV, Diggs moved to Ohio, where he attended high school and wrote for a local black newspaper, the Ohio State Sentinel.
Diggs received an academic scholarship to Notre Dame University. However, he left the university shortly after enrollment due to its strict policy of banning all students from interaction with the black community in South Bend, IN.
After a brief musical career, Diggs enrolled in Winston Salem State Teachers College. There, he was moved by the injustices of racism and segregation and joined the Civil Rights movement. Diggs participated in the first wave of student sit-ins at Woolworth and Kress department store lunch counters. He was arrested with 10 other black students from Winston Salem College and 10 white students from Wake Forest University. After three months of sit-ins, their actions ultimately led to city officials and store owners agreeing to desegregate lunch counters in Winston Salem.
After graduation, Diggs moved to New York City, where he became one of the first African-American reporters hired by The New York Daily News. He also earned his doctorate in theology and counseling and helped counsel the elderly, physically-challenged and substance abusers.
In 1983, he started working for former Councilmember Archie Spigner as a part-time legislative aide and subsequently for his successor, current Councilmember Leroy Comrie.
Diggs was a founding member of the Elmer Blackburne Regular Democratic Club and a member of the Guy Brewer Democratic Club, Jamaica NAACP, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., the Black Heritage Board and Community Board 12. He was also an active member of Immaculate Conception R.C. Church.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sonya Geder Diggs; four siblings, Andrew J. Diggs, the Hon. Laura Diggs Blackburne, Evelyne Diggs James and Robert H. Diggs.
