S.C. civil rights activist Willie McCleod celebrated at funeral in Rock Hill Funeral for Willie McCleod (Source: WBTV) By Rock Hill Herald and WBTV Web Staff | January 9, 2021 at 2:01 PM EST - Updated January 9 at 2:06 PM
ROCK HILL, S.C. (Rock Hill Herald/WBTV) - The life of a local civil rights icon was celebrated Saturday in Rock Hill.
The funeral for South Carolina civil rights activist Willie McCleod took place at Pineville AME Zion Church in Rock Hill.
McCleod was a member of the iconic South Carolina Friendship 9. He died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 78.
Willie McCleod, member of Rock Hillâs Friendship Nine, passes away at 76 Willie McCleod (Source: WBTV File) By Steve Crump and WBTV Web Staff | January 1, 2021 at 1:18 PM EST - Updated January 1 at 7:56 PM
ROCK HILL, S.C. (WBTV) - Willie McCleod, one of the surviving members of the Friendship Nine, has passed away at the age of 76.
McCleod was one of nine students from Rock Hillâs Friendship College that were arrested, went to jail, and served 30 days on a chain gang for sitting at an all-whites lunch counter inside the local McCroryâs store in 1961.
Rather than pay the fine, they took the time - and pioneered the âJail, No Bailâ concept, which was widely used in the Civil Rights movement.