Source: The Washington Informer
For nearly three-quarters of a century, Khadijah Farrakhan stood beside one of the nation’s most recognizable religious leaders. But within the Nation of Islam, she was revered in her own right.
Khadijah Farrakhan, the longtime first lady of the Nation of Islam, died June 27 at age 90. Announcing her passing, the Nation of Islam said Minister Louis Farrakhan shared the news “with deep sadness yet with profound gratitude to Allah,” describing his wife of 72 years as “a loving wife, mother, a faithful devoted follower of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.” The statement added that “Mother Khadijah will forever be cherished and remembered.”
Known affectionately as “Mother Khadijah,” she spent decades mentoring women, strengthening families, organizing humanitarian efforts, and helping build the administrative and educational foundation of the Chicago-based organization.
Born Betsy Ross in 1935, she married Louis Eugene Walcott on Sept. 12, 1953. Two years later, the couple embraced Islam under the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and eventually adopted the surname, Farrakhan . As Minister Louis Farrakhan’s responsibilities grew, so did hers. She helped establish the Nation’s secretarial systems, coordinated fundraising and food distribution programs, led overseas delegations, welcomed visiting African dignitaries, and quietly advised generations of Muslim women. Together, the Farrakhans raised nine children during their 72-year marriage.
Her influence also reached Philadelphia. Before hundreds of thousands gathered along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the Million Woman March in 1997, Mother Khadijah delivered one of the day’s enduring messages: “A nation can rise no higher than its women. We focus on women but cannot lose sight that we must rise as a family, men, women and children.” Her words captured the spirit of a gathering centered on healing, responsibility, and the collective strength of Black women and their families.
Public visitation will be held July 1 and 2 at Mosque Maryam in Chicago. A Janazah service and burial are scheduled for July 3.
Over seven decades, Khadijah Farrakhan helped shape one of the nation’s most influential Black religious organizations, leaving a legacy of faith, service, and an unwavering commitment to family, community, and the empowerment of Black women.
