Doratha Smith-Simmons

Doratha ‘Dodie’ Smith-Simmons was born in Benton, Mississippi on May 30, 1943. In 1945, her family moved to New Orleans. Dodie attended public schools and graduated from Southern University at New Orleans. Dodie credits her sister Dorothy for her involvement in the civil rights in the late 50’s. Dorothy was a member of the NAACP Youth Council and was among students that desegregated LSUNO. Dodie joined her sister in the Youth Council. In 1960, Dodie became an active member of the New Orleans Congress Of Racial Equality, CORE, participating in sit-ins, picketing, and was jailed several times. During the Freedom Rides of 1961, she was a trainer for Freedom Riders leaving from New Orleans for Jackson, Mississippi. Approximately 40% of the riders, who went to Jackson, were trained by or were members of New Orleans CORE. After the passing of the Interstate Commerce Commission ruling abolishing segregation in interstate travel, Dodie became a tester, traveling to McComb, Mississippi, where she and fellow testers were beaten in Poplarville, Mississippi, where three of the testers were arrested and jailed.

In 1965, Dodie worked at Preservation Hall, touring the U.S. and the world with bands led by George Lewis, ‘Kid’ Thomas Valentine, Percy Humphrey, ‘Kid’ Sheik Colar and many of the city’s brass bands, including an appearance at the White House in 1978 with the Young Tuxedo Brass Band.

Dodie was also a founding member of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. She served as Office Manager, Associate Producer, Traditional Jazz Coordinator and Financial Director. She was also the first employee of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, Inc., who own the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and WWOZ radio station.

Dodie now spends her time speaking about her involvement in New Orleans CORE and the Civil Rights Movement. In June, 2014, Dodie organized a 3 day conference around the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer in Louisiana. She was also a member of the planning committee for the Dr. Rudy Lombard memorial and scholarship kick off that took place February 21, 2015.