Remembering a Detroit Community Pillar
Dr. Arthur J. Divers, who recently passed away in Detroit at the age of 97, is being remembered by many for his profound impact on the city. Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, he traveled over 800 miles north during the Jim Crow era, eventually making Detroit his home and dedicating his life to helping others succeed.
Transforming Lives Through Education
Among those sharing memories is Dr. Priscilla Wade, who recalled on December 15 how Divers changed her life's trajectory. "Life is like a dance where one small move can have a domino effect and Dr. Divers created a move like that — in a positive way — for me and my family," Wade said.
In 1974, as Wade planned to move to New York after graduating from Osborn High School, her counselor Divers introduced her to higher education possibilities. "I was the first in my family to graduate from high school and my family was uninformed about the process of entering college. However, Dr. Divers made a move, which was a mentoring act, to see if I was open to being in that (college) space," Wade explained.
Divers helped her gain admission to Wayne State University, where she eventually became a licensed psychologist. "You can say that Dr. Divers walked me to the pond, and I swam all the way home, empowered by the higher education I received from Wayne State University," Wade said, noting that her educational path created a template for her six younger siblings.
Community Leadership Beyond the Classroom
Bea Ward, Chair Emeritus of the Wayne County Democratic Black Caucus, highlighted Divers' commitment to voter education on December 17. "I go way back with Arthur, we're talking about the (Robert) 'Buddy' Battle and Coleman Young days," Ward said. "Arthur was totally committed to the citizens of Detroit and the community and he did so much to educate people about the process and importance of voting."
Willie Cambell, executive director of Core City Neighborhoods, shared how Divers continued his community work even while facing health challenges. "Arthur Divers continued to serve as the president of the Winship Community Association and when we went to see him at a rehabilitation center in November, he told us to proceed with our monthly meeting and to put him on speaker phone so he could participate," Cambell said.
A Lasting Legacy
Historian Ken Coleman, who grew up in the Winship community, reflected on Divers' approach to leadership. "Arthur Divers was certainly a strong leader in our community and he carried out his leadership on a block-to-block level," Coleman said. "He took positions and he would let people know his point of view, but he never did it in a boisterous or rah-rah way."
Divers' daughter Sheri shared her father's philosophy on December 17: "Dad serves as a model for community empowerment. And he always believed 'to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).'" She continued, "He said you could always look and tell which neighborhoods had an effective community association, which are made stronger by block clubs and relationships that require hard work."
A homegoing service will be held on Friday, December 26 at Plymouth United Church of Christ, with a family hour beginning at 10 a.m. followed by the service at 11 a.m.
