Full Name
Willie Pearl Mackey King
Position Title
Civil Rights Activist
Speaker Bio
Mrs. Willie Pearl Mackey King worked for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference under the leadership of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from February 1962 until February 1966. She was a member of King’s executive staff. She performed a variety of administrative duties and traveled with Dr. King during the height of the civil rights movement.
While in Birmingham, Alabama with Dr. King, she typed his famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail. She and Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker transcribed the Letter which was written on newspaper edges, table napkins, toilet paper and whatever scraps of paper that Dr. King could find to write on.
Mrs. King also worked for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for 32 years. During her tenure, she served as the Accounting Officer before becoming the Financial Manager for the Commission. She also worked six years as a contractor for the U.S. Office of Compliance for Capitol Hill after her retirement.
Mrs. King is a member of the Montgomery Hills Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. She has served as Chairperson of the Board of Deacons, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Chairperson of the Pastoral Search Committee and is a teacher in the AGAPE Sunday School Class.
She is a sought-after speaker who is willing to share her journey of service. Some of her speaking engagements include CNN, Church of the Ascension, College of Southern Maryland, District of Columbia Baptist Convention, Legacy of Fannie Lou Hammer, Federal Bureau of Investigation DC Chapter and Headquarters, Howard University Student Campus Ministry, International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies, Larry King Live, Leisure World Association for African American Culture, M&T Bank, Montgomery Hills Baptist Church, Senate Judiciary Committee, Takoma Park Baptist Church, The Transition Network-DC Chapter, US Department of Energy, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, US Department of Treasury, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, US Merit Systems Protection Board, US Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Academy, Washington Interfaith Network, Metropolitan Baptist Church, and Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church.
She has received numerous awards and accalades for her service and commitment to justice including the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies’ Civil Rights Legend Award (2019); Montgomery County Maryland’s African American Living Legend Award (2021); National Women’s History Museum’s Women Making History Award (2023); and the First Baptist Church of Vienna’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Spirit of King Award.
Mrs. King studied at Dimery College, Georgia State University, University of Maryland, Montgomery College and LaSalle University. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management.
Mrs. King has one daughter, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
While in Birmingham, Alabama with Dr. King, she typed his famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail. She and Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker transcribed the Letter which was written on newspaper edges, table napkins, toilet paper and whatever scraps of paper that Dr. King could find to write on.
Mrs. King also worked for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for 32 years. During her tenure, she served as the Accounting Officer before becoming the Financial Manager for the Commission. She also worked six years as a contractor for the U.S. Office of Compliance for Capitol Hill after her retirement.
Mrs. King is a member of the Montgomery Hills Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. She has served as Chairperson of the Board of Deacons, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Chairperson of the Pastoral Search Committee and is a teacher in the AGAPE Sunday School Class.
She is a sought-after speaker who is willing to share her journey of service. Some of her speaking engagements include CNN, Church of the Ascension, College of Southern Maryland, District of Columbia Baptist Convention, Legacy of Fannie Lou Hammer, Federal Bureau of Investigation DC Chapter and Headquarters, Howard University Student Campus Ministry, International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies, Larry King Live, Leisure World Association for African American Culture, M&T Bank, Montgomery Hills Baptist Church, Senate Judiciary Committee, Takoma Park Baptist Church, The Transition Network-DC Chapter, US Department of Energy, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, US Department of Treasury, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, US Merit Systems Protection Board, US Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Academy, Washington Interfaith Network, Metropolitan Baptist Church, and Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church.
She has received numerous awards and accalades for her service and commitment to justice including the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies’ Civil Rights Legend Award (2019); Montgomery County Maryland’s African American Living Legend Award (2021); National Women’s History Museum’s Women Making History Award (2023); and the First Baptist Church of Vienna’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Spirit of King Award.
Mrs. King studied at Dimery College, Georgia State University, University of Maryland, Montgomery College and LaSalle University. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management.
Mrs. King has one daughter, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Speaking At
