We learned this morning via a Facebook status update by Julian Bond of the passing of Ann Durr Lyon last week in Harrisburg, PA. She was 85.

The Birmingham, AL native was one of four daughters of noted civil rights activists Clifford and Virginia (Foster) Durr. She made her own mark in this life by establishing the Harrisburg Civil Rights Oral History Project, and helping create several other initiatives in Pennsylvania. These include helping the Head Start program in Perry County, the Human Service Program at HACC and Temple University Harrisburg’s Graduate Program in Social Work.

She was interviewed by WITF Public Media for a video series called Beyond the Bio in February 2011. Lyon shared a familiar story about her mother’s experiences at Wellesley College and how they shaped her future involvement in the Civil Rights movement.

She also spoke of her time as a member of the East Pennsboro Township Commission. WITF interviewed her again just last year as part of their Facing Cancer Together series as she’d then lived 25 years cancer-free. They published a memorial post to her via the series site earlier today.

Lyon was the focus of a one-hour interview done as part of the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s 150^th anniversary, Living Legacy, in April 2009. During this conversation, she talks about everything from why she moved to Harrisburg in 1957 to the various organizations and efforts she’s undertaken since her arrival.

Lyon was also involved in the Durr Lecture series on civil liberties, held each year on the campus of Auburn University at Montgomery. This year’s edition is currently scheduled for April 4.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to:

The Ann Durr Lyon Human Service Student Scholarship Fund
? The HACC Foundation
1 HACC Drive
Harrisburg, PA 17110