Volma Overton
American civil rights activist
About Volma Overton
Lived 1924 – 2005 (aged 81). Volma Overton was a civil rights activist, marines and postmaster, known for Austin, Texas and Racial segregation.
NAACP activities Volma Overton became the NAACP president of the Austin chapter in 1962. Overton marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965. Overton received the Arthur B. DeWitty Award from the NAACP in 1967.
Legacy Volma Overton had an elementary school named after him in 2006 and an award from the NAACP named after him, known as the DeWitty/Overton award. Overton established the first credit union in east Austin and created an annual golf tournament in which the proceeds would provide scholarships for talented minorities. Overton was influential in the mentoring program at Oak Spring Elementary, whose goal was to serve mainly low-income minority students.
Death Volma Overton died in 2005. He and his wife Warneta Hill Overton are buried in the Texas State Cemetery.
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Important facts
People in Volma Overton's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Volma Overton?
American civil rights activist (1924–2005)
When was Volma Overton born?
Volma Overton was born on 26 September 1924 in Maha, Texas.
When did Volma Overton die?
Volma Overton died on 31 October 2005 in Austin.
What was Volma Overton's occupation?
Volma Overton was a civil rights activist, marines and postmaster.
What was Volma Overton known for?
Volma Overton was known for Austin, Texas and Racial segregation.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Volma Overton. https://biography.guide/volma-overton/
MLA: "Volma Overton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/volma-overton/.
Chicago: "Volma Overton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/volma-overton/.
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