Personal secretary for Rev. King
From the moment that Dora McDonald became Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s personal secretary in 1960, she was entrusted with his secrets and counted on to look after his family if something happened to him.
It was Ms. McDonald who often got late-night calls from King when he couldn't sleep. It was Ms. McDonald who typed King's manuscripts and the final versions of his speeches. She was the one who told Coretta Scott King that her husband had been assassinated.
Ms. McDonald, who was born in Greeleyville, S.C., died of complications from cancer at Crawford Long Hospital on Saturday, two days before the national holiday that honors her former boss and friend. She was 81.
As King's secretary, Ms. McDonald tended to his everyday affairs, such as his finances, correspondence and travel arrangements, from her desk at Ebenezer Baptist Church and later from her office at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Ms. McDonald recorded some of her memories in her book "Secretary to a King," due out in the spring.
From the moment that Dora McDonald became Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s personal secretary in 1960, she was entrusted with his secrets and counted on to look after his family if something happened to him.
It was Ms. McDonald who often got late-night calls from King when he couldn't sleep. It was Ms. McDonald who typed King's manuscripts and the final versions of his speeches. She was the one who told Coretta Scott King that her husband had been assassinated.
Ms. McDonald, who was born in Greeleyville, S.C., died of complications from cancer at Crawford Long Hospital on Saturday, two days before the national holiday that honors her former boss and friend. She was 81.
As King's secretary, Ms. McDonald tended to his everyday affairs, such as his finances, correspondence and travel arrangements, from her desk at Ebenezer Baptist Church and later from her office at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Ms. McDonald recorded some of her memories in her book "Secretary to a King," due out in the spring.
Personal secretary for Rev. King
From the moment that Dora McDonald became Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s personal secretary in 1960, she was entrusted with his secrets and counted on to look after his family if something happened to him.
It was Ms. McDonald who often got late-night calls from King when he couldn't sleep. It was Ms. McDonald who typed King's manuscripts and the final versions of his speeches. She was the one who told Coretta Scott King that her husband had been assassinated.
Ms. McDonald, who was born in Greeleyville, S.C., died of complications from cancer at Crawford Long Hospital on Saturday, two days before the national holiday that honors her former boss and friend. She was 81.
As King's secretary, Ms. McDonald tended to his everyday affairs, such as his finances, correspondence and travel arrangements, from her desk at Ebenezer Baptist Church and later from her office at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Ms. McDonald recorded some of her memories in her book "Secretary to a King," due out in the spring.
From the moment that Dora McDonald became Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s personal secretary in 1960, she was entrusted with his secrets and counted on to look after his family if something happened to him.
It was Ms. McDonald who often got late-night calls from King when he couldn't sleep. It was Ms. McDonald who typed King's manuscripts and the final versions of his speeches. She was the one who told Coretta Scott King that her husband had been assassinated.
Ms. McDonald, who was born in Greeleyville, S.C., died of complications from cancer at Crawford Long Hospital on Saturday, two days before the national holiday that honors her former boss and friend. She was 81.
As King's secretary, Ms. McDonald tended to his everyday affairs, such as his finances, correspondence and travel arrangements, from her desk at Ebenezer Baptist Church and later from her office at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Ms. McDonald recorded some of her memories in her book "Secretary to a King," due out in the spring.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
