Who was Lilly Ledbetter married to? Personal life explored as iconic equal pay activist dies aged 86

Renowned activist Lilly Ledbetter, 86, unexpectedly passed away on October 12, 2024. Lilly’s family told CNN that she had a respiratory failure and was surrounded by her close ones at the time of death. Further, they requested everyone to respect their privacy as they mourn Ledbetter’s demise.

Lilly Ledbetter gained recognition over the years for her battle to ensure equal pay irrespective of gender. She worked at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company during the '70s and later realized she had been receiving significantly lesser payment compared to her male counterparts. This eventually forced her to file a lawsuit against Goodyear in 1999 for gender discrimination.

Lilly got married to Charles Ledbetter and had two children together, while she continued fighting after the high court declared that she did not file her claim on time.

Following a lineup of legal battles, Barack Obama, former President of the United States, signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law. The act allowed any worker to file a lawsuit if he or she found anything related to pay discrimination.

Obama expressed his thoughts on social media by posting two photos on X (formerly Twitter), praising the way Lilly worked for gender equality. He further addressed Ledbetter’s contributions by writing:

“Lilly did what so many Americans before her have done: setting her sights high for herself and even higher for her children and grandchildren. Michelle and I are grateful for her advocacy and her friendship, and we send our love and prayers to her family and everyone who is continuing the fight that she began.”

Notably, Lilly’s legal battle has also been documented in the form of a film and a memoir, that came out in 2012 and 2014 respectively.

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Lilly Ledbetter was a mother of two: Personal life and other details explored

As aforementioned, the Possum Trot, Alabama native fought for the right to ensure equal pay for all. But apart from this, she also had a family that included two kids, Vicky and Phillip, from her marriage to Charles Ledbetter.

Lilly and Charles exchanged vows in 1955, and the latter served as a command sergeant major in the army. Before coming to Goodyear, Lilly Ledbetter had worked various other jobs to help her family, including as a manager at H&R Block. Furthermore, she was also employed at Jacksonville State University as the assistant financial aid officer.

In an interview with the Tory Burch Foundation, she revealed that her husband supported her despite the fact that he was dealing with health problems. Ledbetter addressed the same by saying:

“He had four battles with cancer throughout my trial but he was in court with me every day. He was with me every time I went to Birmingham (75 miles away from home), to where the Equal Employment Commission Office was and to my lawyer’s office.”

Charles won several medals and ribbons throughout his career, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, and the Expert Badge for the M1, M-16 Rifle, and Hand Grenade, as per an obituary in The Anniston Star. Charles died from unknown causes at his house in December 2008.

Lilly Ledbetter told the Tory Burch Foundation she regretted that her husband could not live to witness the Ledbetter Bill being signed into law. She said in her memoir Grace and Grit that although Charles was worried that her job commitments would bring distance between her and the family members, he began supporting her at one point.

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Lilly Ledbetter spent her childhood in Alabama and completed her graduation at Jacksonville High School. Apart from her two children, she is also survived by her four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.