Black History

Passes In Lynchburg: Dr. Owen C. Cardwell, Jr. Helped To Desegregate Lynchburg Public Schools

Rev. Dr. Owen C. Cardwell, Jr., a civil rights pioneer and one of the first Black students to desegregate Lynchburg public schools, passed on May 12, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of justice, faith, and community leadership.

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New Journal and Guide Staff

LYNCHBURG, VA

Rev. Dr. Owen C. Cardwell, Jr., one of the first four African-American youth ordered by the federal court to desegregate Lynchburg’s public schools passed on May 12, 2025 in his native hometown.

On January 29, 1962, Cardwell and Lynda Woodruff were admitted under federal court order to E.C. Glass High School. At the same time, two other Black students also part of the federal court order were unlawfully denied entry by the Lynchburg School Board, as an act of massive resistance. The School Board relented when the students’ case was returned to federal court, forcing the admission of Brenda Hughes and Cecelia Jackson the following semester.

Cardwell was pastor of the Historic Diamond Hill Baptist Church in Lynchburg since 2021, He had pastored for 55 years in Lynchburg, Detroit, Mich. and Boston, Mass. He also was the Rosel Distinguished Professor of Education and Human Development of the Center for Innovative Leadership and Professional Development at the University of Lynchburg (formerly Virginia Seminary and College), where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts. He held a Masters of Theology from Boston University, a Masters of Education from Cambridge College, Cambridge, Mass., and also completed course requirements for the Ph.D. in Counseling from Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.

As a youth, Cardwell was active in the civil rights movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to include participating in sit-ins, marches, and even being arrested during a protest demonstration in Danville. Throughout his adult career, he continued his activism for social justice and human rights by leading community development agencies and programs, in addition to his full-time ministry.

He served as Regional Housing Director for the Massachusetts Housing Authority and was first Director of Housing for the City of Lawrence, MA and the first Executive Director/CEO for the Virginia Housing Foundation, Richmond, VA.

Dr. Cardwell authored two books, “Giant Killer” and “Developing Diamonds.”

In July of 2023, he was appointed by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to the Virginia African-American Advisory Board. He had applied for the position and gave honest responses during a phone interview, including that he didn’t agree with all of the governor’s policy decisions.

“I seriously doubt there is a civil rights leader anywhere in the country that Owen didn’t know, that he couldn’t pick up the phone and call,” said Dr. Roger Jones, a University colleague and friend.

“He will be remembered as a unifier, as someone who really wanted to unify communities,” Jones said. “That was one of the things that he wanted to do in Lynchburg, to try to unify Lynchburg around the common vision.”

Cardwell enlisted in the United States Army November 18, 1969. February 1, 1974 he received an honorable discharge.

Rev Dr. Owen Calvin Cardwell, Jr., was married to Elder Flora S. Cardwell for 38 years. He was preceded in death by his parents Owen C. Cardwell, Sr. and Pearl Elizabeth Campbell Cardwell.

He leaves a son Montez Cardwell (Sophia), daughters Felecia Cardwell and Shonda Matthews; 11 grandchildren; Sister Verlease Nicholas and Brother Michael Cardwell; and a host of family and friends.