Hundreds gather in honor of civil and women’s rights pioneer, Dorothy Height

Hundreds gathered at the National Cathedral today for the funeral of civil and women's rights pioneer Dorothy Height, who passed away April 20 at the age of 98. Family, friends, dignitaries, elected officials and other civil rights leaders gathered to celebrate the life and achievements of Dr. Height, characterized as one of the heroes of the last century.

President Obama, who delivered the eulogy, said she deserves a place in America's history books alongside more familiar names like WEB DeBois and Mary McLeod Bethune.

"Look at her body of work. Desegregating the YWCA, laying the groundwork for integration on Wednesdays in Mississippi, lending pigs to poor farmers as a sustainable source of income, strategizing with civil rights leaders, holding her own, the only woman in the room, Queen Esther to this Moses generation, even as she led the Council of Negro Women with vision and energy."

The President commended Height for decades of tireless and quiet work behind the scenes, right up until her last months. He said Dr. Height had been a regular at the White House since he took office, visiting 21 times.