Doretha Combre, Civil Rights Pioneer Who Integrated McNeese, Dies at 66

The trailblazing activist fought for educational equality and Black empowerment in 1950s Louisiana.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Doretha Combre, a pioneering Black businesswoman and civil rights champion in Lake Charles, Louisiana, passed away in 1962 at the age of 66. Combre was a driving force behind the integration of McNeese State College in 1954, working with NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall to file a lawsuit that successfully allowed the first Black students to enroll. She was also a political trailblazer, running for the Lake Charles School Board and serving as president of the Louisiana State Conference of NAACP branches.

Why it matters

Combre's life and work highlight the critical role that grassroots activists played in dismantling segregation and advancing civil rights in the South during the 1950s. Her story serves as an inspiring example of how one determined individual can make a profound impact on their community and the broader fight for equality.

The details

After the unexpected death of her husband, Dr. T.A. Combre, Doretha Combre became a widowed mother of six who built a business empire that included a funeral home, ambulance service, flower shop, and cemetery - all while teaching school at night. When her daughter was denied admission to LSU due to her race, Combre successfully convinced the university to pay for her daughter to attend Atlanta University instead. In 1954, Combre reached out to civil rights attorney Thurgood Marshall to file a lawsuit against McNeese State College for denying admission to 13 Black students, despite the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Their legal efforts led to the integration of McNeese later that year.

  • In 1954, Combre and Thurgood Marshall filed a lawsuit against McNeese State College.
  • In September 1954, the first Black students successfully enrolled at McNeese.
  • Combre died in 1962 at the age of 66.

The players

Doretha Alma Dardenne Combre

A pioneering Black businesswoman and civil rights activist in Lake Charles, Louisiana, who fought to integrate McNeese State College and served as president of the Louisiana State Conference of NAACP branches.

Thurgood Marshall

A civil rights attorney who worked with Combre to file the successful lawsuit against McNeese State College for denying admission to Black students.

Jack Gremillion

The Louisiana Attorney General who attempted to silence the NAACP in the state in 1956 by obtaining a court order barring the organization from doing business unless they submitted their full membership lists.

Warren Combre Sr.

Doretha Combre's son, who was a member of the Calcasieu Parish School Board when Riverside Elementary was renamed Doretha A. Combre Elementary in 1981 to honor his mother's legacy.

Joyce Sonnier

A researcher at the SW LA Genealogical & Historical Library who led a presentation on the life and accomplishments of Doretha Combre.

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What they’re saying

“She was not quiet, she was not still.”

— Joyce Sonnier, Researcher (americanpress.com)

“Doretha was powerful in her fight for equality for all African Americans in America. She was a phenomenal woman. She is the picture of courage.”

— Joyce Sonnier, Researcher (americanpress.com)

What’s next

The legacy of Doretha Combre continues to be celebrated in Lake Charles, with Combre-Fondel Elementary School named in her honor. Her story serves as an inspiration for future generations of activists and community leaders.

The takeaway

Doretha Combre's life exemplifies the power of grassroots activism and determination in the face of systemic racism. Her tireless efforts to integrate McNeese State College and champion educational opportunities for Black students in Louisiana paved the way for greater equality and justice in the region.