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Civil rights leader the Rev. Willie T. Barrow, known as "the Little Warrior," recently celebrated her 80th birthday at a black-tie gala dinner hosted by her friends and godchildren in Chicago.

At the birthday dinner at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, more than 800 well-wishers saluted the Little Warrior as "a civil rights leader, a pastor, a motivator, a counselor, an organizer, a godmother and a friend."

Rev. Barrow serves as chair of the board emeritus of Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and is minister of justice at the Vernon Park Church of God in Chicago. Bar row also is a mentor and godmother of more than 100 accomplished individuals across the country.

Reflecting on her birthday celebration, Barrow told JET several days later: "It was the night of my life. I have never felt so loved and needed before. Everybody was there, Blacks, Whites, Browns, Mexicans, Greeks. We were all one that night. Every TV station and newspaper was there. For awhile I thought it was my funeral," she laughed.

"You know people come out to your funeral, but this was not a funeral. I was able to see, feel and smell my flowers while I am alive. I call it a big thank you party. People came up to me and said, 'We wanted to find a way to thank you because you have really given us service.' So it was more like a thank you party, than a birthday party."

Among those on hand to celebrate her birthday were Rainbow/PUSH Coalition founder, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, St.; Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr.; Congressmen Bobby L. Rush and Danny K. Davis; Cook County Clerk Dorothy Brown; the Rev. Dr. Johnnie Colemon, founder-minister; Christ Universal Temple; Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan; and Chicago TV station presidents Emily Barr, (ABC); Joe Ahern (CBS); Larry Wert (NBC) and Deborah Carpenter, (FOX 32).

Among the performers were gospel legend Albertina Walker and gospel recording artist Kim Stratton.

Program emcees were motivator George O'Hare, WVON radio gospel host Pare Morris, CBS 2 news anchor Diann Burns and NBC 5 news anchor Don Lemon.

A highlight during the evening's festivities was the announcement of a Hall of Justice Building named after Rev. Barrow. The hall will be part of a new development by the Vernon Park Church of God, said the church's pastor, the Rev. Jerald January, Sr., during the birthday salute.

Rev. Barrow is the author of the new book, How To Get Married ... And Stay Married (Cool Springs Publishing, $12) (JET, Nov. 15, 2004). She was married 56 years to Clyde Raymond Barrow until his death in 1998. "You need to know why marriage is a blessing, not a burden," she says.

Barrow was an organizer for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the '60s Civil Rights Movement. She was instrumental in organizing the historical March of Selma, Alabama, and conducted voter registration drives for Dr. King.

She also was among the founders of SCLC's Operation Breadbasket. She has served as co-chairperson of Rainbow/ PUSH Coalition and continues to serve as an aide to Rev. Jackson.

The civil rights warrior and minister holds an honorary doctorate of divinity degree from Monrovia, Liberia, and a certificate in leadership from Harvard University. Several years ago a street in Chicago was renamed after her.

Proceeds from the $80-per-plate dinner were earmarked for the Barrow Institute, Rev. Barrow's new legacy program to train and inspire leadership in women, said event coordinator Delores MeBain. The institute will seek to include women of all ethnic backgrounds to create a more connected world.