Grandmother of Juneteenth Opal Lee released from hospital; Annual Walk for Freedom to continue

In what will come as no surprise to many, the resilient 98-year-old lovingly referred to as ‘The Grandmother of Juneteenth’ is determined to lead her annual March for Freedom on June 19.

Nothing’s stopping Opal Lee.

Not even a brief stint in the hospital.

Her granddaughter told NBC 5 that Dr. Lee was hospitalized in Cincinnati, Ohio, while there to accept an award.

During an interview with NBC 5’s Brittney Johnson on Monday afternoon, Dione Sims shared that her grandmother's spirits are high and she is focused on recovering in time for the walk.

“I talked to her via zoom. She’s smiling and telling me she’s going to ‘show the young folks somethin,’” said Sims with a smile. “We’re focused on making sure Juneteenth is everything because you know this is her 50^th year.”

This year, Opal’s Walk for Freedom 2025 is returning to the city of Fort Worth on June 19.

The 2.5 mile walk [symbolizing the 2.5 years it took for news of freedom to reach enslaved people in Galveston] will kick off at 9 a.m. Farrington Field, located at 1501 University Dr. in Fort Worth.

As of Monday evening, Lee had been released from the hospital and is on her way back to North Texas, according to her family.

The health and safety of this trailblazer will be top of mind for organizers on June 19, said Sims.

While Lee will walk side by side with participants for part of the route, she will be also hop on a golf cart from time to time.

“That allows her to be a part and to enjoy the festivities but to the extent that you can slow down somebody who loves her community loves her country,” said Sims. “The main thing keeping my grandmother safe because we still have to get the National Juneteenth Museum built and for her to enjoy that so it's all about keeping her safe.”

The retired schoolteacher’s annual movement secured Juneteenth as a national holiday in 2021.

Lee and organizers are calling on young people to show up for the walk on June 19, emphasizing the importance of the younger generation taking on a larger role, now more than ever.

“It is their turn,” said Sims. “It is their turn. She has done a lot. She’s paved the way and taken that baton and going forward is what we want to make sure young people do. It’s not an ‘old folks’ holiday,’ Juneteenth is for everyone and every age.”

Celebrate Juneteenth with NBC 5, Telemundo 39, Unity Unlimited, Inc., and Dr. Opal Lee on Thursday, June 19, at Opal’s Walk for Freedom. Dr. Lee is expected to kick off the walk in person.