Rosa Parks’ Final Wishes Fulfilled

In 2005, Rosa Parks passed away in her Detroit apartment at the age of ninety-two. As part of her estate plan, Parks assigned all of her belongings to the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development, a charitable institute to “educate and motivate youth and adults, particularly African American, for self and community development.” A retired Detroit judge and Elains Steele, Parks’ close friend, were named executors of the estate. Steele was also named as a prominent beneficiary, receiving 90% of royalties. Parks’ nieces and nephews received the other 10% of royalties. However, the nieces and nephews fought over Parks’ estate and sued to challenge the estate plan, accusing Steele of undue influence.

For years, both parties have continued to fight, settle, and fight again over Parks’ estate. The case finally made its way to the Michigan Supreme Court last week, and the court ruled that Steele and the retired Judge were to be restored to their executor positions and that Parks’ original wishes were to be followed. Now, after years of legal battles, the Institute is in control of Parks’ belongings just as she originally wished.

For more information on legal battles surrounding Parks’ estate, see Danielle and Andy Mayoras, Ignored for Years, Rosa Parks’ Last Wishes Are Finally Fulfilled, The Wall Street Journal, Jan. 6, 2012.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.)) for bringing this article to my attention.