ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) -For 60 years, Shirley Sherrod has been rooted in one mission: accessibility. But that mission didn’t begin in a boardroom — she says it began with heartbreak.

“My father had been murdered, and the person who murdered him was not prosecuted. I made the commitment to stay in the South and work for change.”

That pain became the foundation for a lifetime of purpose. From fighting for Black farmers to building pathways for land ownership, Sherrod’s work has always centered on her community.

“We always think we need to go somewhere else to make a difference. But if you really take the time to learn some of the history of where you are, where you grew up, if you really take the time to learn the people, there’s work,” Sherrod said.

Impact on rural South Georgia

Supporters say that work hasn’t always made it into the history books — but it’s shaped lives across rural South Georgia. Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald, who works alongside Sherrod with the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative, says young women must know the stories of local leaders.

“We have a Unita Blackwell Young Women’s Leadership Institute that seeks to do for young black women in rural communities what somebody did for us. The connectivity, the connective tissue that brings you out of your rural isolation to help you understand the world around you and the dangers in that world.”

Farmer Anne Mu’min says Sherrod has helped people hold onto land and reinforce how vital farming is to the country.

“She has put all of her efforts into helping people retain land and to stay into farming. And I think that’s one of her most valuable assets as an individual.”

Community leaders, activists, and supporters gathered at the Hilton Garden Inn Albany to celebrate Sherrod’s 60 years of service.

“A young woman could make a decision to work and not have all of the answers, but to take every obstacle, every lesson learned, to build on that, to actually make something out of nothing,” Sherrod said.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.