The woman who accused Emmett Till of whistling at her which resulted in his murder has died at the age of 88.
According to reports, Carolyn Bryant Donham died after her battle with cancer with receiving hospice care. Devery Anderson, the author of “Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement” called Donham’s death the end of a chapter.
He said, “Some people have been clinging to hope that she could be prosecuted. She was the last remaining person who had any involvement. Now that can’t happen.” Anderson continued, “For many it’s going to be a wound because justice was never done.”
He added, “Some others were clinging to hope she might still talk or tell the truth… Now it’s over.” Wheeler Parker, Till’s cousin stated that he and his family have sent their condolences to Donham’s family.
“We don’t have any ill will or animosity toward her,” he said. Wheeler also mentioned that Mamie Till Mobley, Emmett’s mother forgave her son’s killers.
In August 1955, Emmett Till visited his family in Mississippi when he was accused of whistling at Carolyn Bryant Donham, a white woman in the South. Till was then beaten and shot to death by Donham’s husband, and his brother. They were acquitted of all charges and later to confessed to beating the 14-year-old boy.
Carolyn Bryant Donham’s death comes after Till’s family was fighting to get justice for his death.