Luella McKay
Luella McKay | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 10, 1918 Portland, Oregon, USA |
| Died | April 15, 1995 Southfield, Michigan, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse(s) | Jasper Lewis McKay |
| Children | Nicholas William McKay |
Luella Miland McKay (October 10, 1918 - April, 15 1995) was an American Bahá'í who became a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for Spanish Morocco.
Biography[edit]
McKay was born on October 10, 1918, in Portland, Oregon. Her family later moved to San Francisco, California, where she became the first Black youth to become a Bahá’í in the city. She learned of the Baha'i Faith from Rosa L. Shaw and declared after attending a series of firesides in the Shaw home. On June 10, 1945, she married Jasper Lewis McKay. The couple had one son, named Nicholas William.[1]
After attending an International Teaching Conference in 1953 at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, McKay offered to pioneer with her sister, Earleta Fleming, brother-in-law, John Fleming, and her friend, Alyce Janssen. Because her family was black and Alyce was white, McKay made a point to ask for a pioneer post that would accept a mixed race group. She also brought along her young son, Nicholas.[2] McKay and the group arrived in Spanish Morocco, settling in Ceuta, in 1953 and were designated Knights of Bahá’u’lláh for opening the virgin territory.[3] McKay continued to serve the Baha'i Faith in Africa from 1953 to 1959.[4]
On her passing, the Universal House of Justice conveyed the following message to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States:
- "SADDENED LOSS DEVOTED KNIGHT OF BAHÁ'U'LLÁH LUELLA MCKAY. HER PIONEERING ACTIVITIES IN AFRICA, INCLUDING SPANISH MOROCCO AND SPANISH GUINEA, WARMLY REMEMBERED. PRAYING HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HER SOUL ABHÁ KINGDOM. KINDLY CONVEY OUR CONDOLENCES HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY."[5]
References[edit]
- ↑ https://bahai.works/index.php?title=File:In_Memoriam_1992-1997.pdf&page=224
- ↑ Redman, E. The Knights of Bahá’u’lláh, George Ronald Press, London. p 37
- ↑ https://bahai-library.com/roll_honor_knights_bahaullah
- ↑ https://bahai.works/index.php?title=File:In_Memoriam_1992-1997.pdf&page=226
- ↑ https://bahai.works/index.php?title=File:In_Memoriam_1992-1997.pdf&page=228
