Jerome Smith: key obituary facts
Is Jerome Smith dead? Yes. Jerome Smith died on August 21, 2026, at age 87.
Cause of death: Jerome Smith's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Jerome Smith known for?
Jerome Smith was a Civil rights activist.
More about Jerome Smith
Born: May 21, 1939.
Jerome Smith, an American civil rights activist, died on August 21, 2026, aged 87.
Nicknamed “Big Duck,” Smith was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he later died, and became known for his work in the civil rights movement. He joined the Freedom Riders in 1961 and devoted himself to the Congress of Racial Equality, helping raise funds and register Black voters across the South.
Smith also took part in a lunch counter sit-in for desegregation and was arrested and jailed in his hometown. He later rode with Freedom Riders to McComb, Mississippi, continuing his activism in direct-action campaigns.