An Agent of Change dies and His Battle is Remembered

Jefferson Thomas died Sunday, Sept 5th from pancreatic cancer. Thomas was one of the “Little Rock Nine” who provoked a major civil rights battle
at Little Rock Central High, my alma mater, in 1957 and is remembered as an agent of change in our small state.

Little Rock Nine 1957

When he was just 15 years old, Thomas volunteered to break the “color barrier” along with 8 other students and stand for what they knew was right, regardless of what it cost them and their families.
In 2007, Mr. Thomas told The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that prayer had
helped him through the integration struggle. He said that one Sunday
at church he heard the hymn “Lord, Don’t Move My Mountain, Just Give
Me the Strength to Climb,” inspiring him to pray for strength, rather
than for the acceptance of his classmates.

Arkansas, along with our nation is thankful today for strong men and
women of faith that stand up. “The hottest place in Hell is reserved
for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.” Martin
Luther King.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/06/AR2010090603672.html