Troy Davis' sister, Martina Davis Correia, has died at the age of 44 after a long battle with breast cancer. She was diagnosed at the age of 31.
Davis was executed by lethal injection on Sept. 21 for the 1989 murder of off-duty Savannah, Ga., police officer Mark MacPhail. Many believe that Davis' case needed to be revisited because of doubts in evidence that was used to convict and sentence Davis.
An anti-death-penalty advocate, Correia was the chair of the Steering Committee for Amnesty International USA's Program to Abolish the Death Penalty and was Amnesty International's coordinator in Georgia for the death-penalty program.
Curt Goering, chief operating officer of Amnesty International USA, said in a statement:
Our hearts are breaking over the loss of this extraordinary woman. She fought to save her brother’s life with courage, strength and determination, every step of the way. She was a powerful example of how one person can make a difference as she led the fight for justice for Troy Davis, even as she endured her own decade-long battle with cancer.
She was a tenacious fighter, a graceful inspiration to activists everywhere, and a true hero of the movement for human rights. At this sorrowful time, we at Amnesty International offer our profound sympathy to her family.
Correia's son, De'Jaun Correia, is one of The Root's 2011 Young Futurists. Check out his story here.
Correia's funeral is being held on Saturday in Savannah at the Temple of Glory Community Center (1105 Stiles Ave). The services are open to the public.
Read more at WSAV.