Zelma Redding honored at Mercer’s Graduation

OTIS REDDING FOUNDATION CELEBRATES ZELMA REDDING RECEIVING HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM MERCER UNIVERSITY

The Otis Redding Foundation is celebrating Zelma Redding, its Founder and President, who received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Mercer University on May 12, 2025 at the university’s Macon ceremony in Macon, GA, where she received a standing ovation. Mrs. Redding, the widow of the late, great Otis Redding, was bestowed with the honorary doctorate, for her longtime philanthropy, advocacy for youth, education and the arts, and for be…

Zelma Redding honored at Mercer’s Graduation

One of the pillars of Georgia’s musical community was honored for her life’s work. Zelma Redding, the widow of soul music legend Otis Redding, was given an honorary doctor of humanities degree during commencement ceremonies at Mercer University in Macon. Left with three small children in 1967 after her husband died in a plane crash, Redding mastered the music business to wrestle back her husband’s royalties and laid the groundwork for music educ…