Harry Groff Lefever, born December 7, 1931, attended Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg, Virginia where he earned an undergraduate degree in 1955. Lefever earned his Master's degree from the University of Chicago in 1962 and his Doctorate of Philosphy from Emory University in 1971. After teaching at Eastern Mennonite College for three years, he joined the Sociology Department at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1966. Lefever served as the department chair from 1975-1992. In 2003, he retired from teaching and was named Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Spelman College. He received several awards while teaching at Spelman, including the Presidential Award for Scholarly Achievement, the United Negro College Fund Distinguished Scholar Award, and the Fannie Lou Hamer Achievement Award. Lefever wrote several books related to race relations and the Civil Rights Movement, notably Undaunted by the Fight: Spelman College & the Civil Rights Movement 1957-1967 (2005) and Sacred Places: A Guide to Civil Rights Sites in Atlanta, Georgia (2008). Lefever's wife, Esther, was a district councilwoman for the Sixth District of Atlanta.