Susie McDonald, affectionately known as “Miss Sue” in her Montgomery community, was a remarkable African American woman whose life blended entrepreneurship, education, philanthropy, and courageous civil rights activism. Born around 1878 and passing in 1968, she emerged as a key figure in one of Montgomery’s prominent Black families and left a lasting legacy through her multifaceted contributions.
After attending Fisk University for a year, she returned home to Montgomery and channeled her energy into community service. She taught briefly at a local school before launching an ambitious venture: McDonald’s Farm. This entertainment center featured a restaurant and one of the city’s earliest public swimming pools open to Black residents. Far more than a leisure spot, it became a vital gathering place for Black families and a venue for charitable initiatives. During the Great Depression, the center hosted fundraisers—such as events supporting the March of Dimes—and offered aid to those facing hunger and hardship.
McDonald’s commitment to justice deepened in the 1950s. On October 21, 1955, as an elderly widow in her 70s who used a cane and often wore flowered dresses, she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger, leading to her arrest for violating segregation laws. Her arrest—along with those of Aurelia Browder, Claudette Colvin, and Mary Louise Smith—helped fuel the federal lawsuit Browder v. Gayle, which ultimately declared bus segregation unconstitutional in 1956, paving the way for the end of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
The ruling brought backlash, and during this tense period, her son stood guard at night to protect her from potential retaliation by angered white residents. Undeterred, McDonald continued her activism, supporting voting rights campaigns and opening her home as a haven for civil rights workers. Beyond her public roles, she remained deeply rooted in her faith as a devoted member of St. Jude Catholic Church, where her service and community involvement further enriched Montgomery’s social fabric.
Susie McDonald’s enduring legacy endures as an inspiring example of resilience and impact—one person’s determination as a businesswoman, educator, philanthropist, activist, and community pillar can transform a city and advance justice for generations.