Betty Cantor

Family-Placed Death Notice

BETTY GOLDSTEIN CANTOR Passed away Friday, April 29, 2005 in Savannah at age 84. Cantor, a life-long human rights activist, was born in Atlanta, GA. in 1920 and lived there until shortly after her retirement at age 77 and a half. She was the daughter of the late Becky Ellman Goldstein and Meyer M. Goldstein. Her maternal and paternal grandfathers were founding members of the Ahavath Achim Synagogue of which she was a member for sixty years. She was employed for over 38 years by the Anti-Defamation League serving most recently as the associate director of its Southeast Regional Office. She was awarded the agency's coveted Milton A. Senn award in 1989 for her "Dedication, Effectiveness and Outstanding Service." Cantor attended the City of Atlanta Public Schools and graduated from Girls High School in 1937. She attended the University of GA until she had to leave school to go to work during the Great Depression. She dedicated herself to serving others, although she had to overcome great personal adversity herself. In 1954, when her children were all under age five, her husband Leon Cantor, was shot in a robbery of his downtown Atlanta pharmacy, and was permanently disabled. Betty Cantor began working for social justice under the tutelage of Atlantan Mary Raoul Millis, who organized the Association for Democracy, in which Cantor participated with her girlhood friend the late Doris Winkle Naiman. Together with Frank McAllister, who later became an editor at the New York Herald Tribune, and Walter Millis, these two twenty-one-year-old women began a vigorous letter writing and telephone campaign to repeal the poll tax. This repressive annual fee, which was cumulative and had to be paid in full to gain eligibility to vote, made it virtually impossible for many poor whites and blacks to vote. The activities of the Association for Democracy were instrumental in the eventual repeal of this unjust law. Cantors work as ADL's southeast education director took her to many communities throughout the South where she assisted school systems in preparing for integration. Of her career achievements, she was perhaps proudest of having developed the Witness to the Holocaust program replicated in many communities. She arranged for Survivors of the Holocaust to tell their stories in classrooms so that students would understand the atrocities which can occur when prejudice is unchallenged. Cantor was appointed to the GA Commission on the Holocaust by Gov. Zell Miller, and in 1999 she was honored in the Capitol Rotunda when Gov. Roy Barnes presented her with the Humanitarian Award for "her stand against prejudice, bigotry and racism." Cantor is survived by her sister Shirley M. Kolack of Boston, MA, daughter Sally Cantor and son-in-law Roger Mayer of Bethlehem, PA, son Steven Cantor of Brooklyn, NY, daughter Diane Cantor and son-in-law Thomas Echols of Savannah, GA, and four grandchildren David and Sarah Cantor-Echols and Becky Cantor and Elizabeth Cantor-Mayer and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Betty Cantor stood barely 411 and wore a size four shoe. Her children recall her bravery and her strength despite her tiny stature. Once crossing West Peachtree St., she noticed a sparrow lying in the street, obviously stunned by a collision with overhead wires. Just as the light changed, she rushed into the street, scooped up the tiny bird, and placed it in the safety of a nearby bush. Her children watched as the sparrow regained its strength and flew away unharmed. Throughout her life Betty Cantor reached out her hand in sincerity, bravery and gracious kindness. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be sent to the Southeast Office of the Anti-Defamation League at: 3490 Piedmont Rd., Ste. 610, Atlanta, GA 30305. Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 2 at 10:30 AM at Ahavath Achim Synagogue (600 Peachtree Battle Ave Atlanta) with Rabbi Neil Sandler and Cantor Joel fox officiating. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. The family will sit Shivah at the home of Carolyn and David Soloway, 1647 Grove park Ct. in Decatur 30033 . Arrangements by Dresslers Jewish Funeral Care,, 770-451-4999.