07/11/2026
Rest in power Soror!
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, joins the world in honoring the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of our beloved Honorary Member, Lillian Davis Roberts. Soror Roberts, a fearless labor leader, trailblazer, and champion for working families, peacefully transitioned on July 9, 2026.
Born on January 2, 1928, Lillian Davis Roberts dedicated more than six decades of her life to advancing the rights, dignity, and economic security of working-class people. Beginning her career as a nurse’s aide, she rose to become one of the most influential leaders in the American labor movement. She served as Executive Director of AFSCME District Council 37, New York City’s largest municipal union, where she fought tirelessly for fair wages, safe working conditions, quality healthcare, and the rights of public service workers.
As a woman of extraordinary courage, Soror Roberts was known for leading strikes on behalf of workers, demonstrating that true leadership often requires personal sacrifice. She later became the first Black woman to head the New York State Department of Labor and served as a former U. S. Department of Labor Commissioner, creating opportunities for generations of women leaders to follow. Affectionately known as the “First Lady of Labor,” she worked to strengthen the labor movement, empower women, and ensure that the needs of working families remained central to the fight for equity and fair wages.
Soror Roberts was inducted into Honorary Membership during the 36th National Convention in 1981. Today, we celebrate Soror Lillian Davis Roberts with profound gratitude for her remarkable contributions to organized labor, public service, women’s leadership, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.
We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, and the countless workers and communities whose lives she touched. May she rest in eternal peace, and may her extraordinary legacy continue to inspire all who are called to serve.
