People are speaking out about the death of Jefferson Thomas, one of the members of the Little Rock 9, including Governor Mike Beebe and members of the NAACP.
Jefferson Thomas walked the halls at Central High School with eight other students as part of the integretion movement in the public school system in 1957.
Word of the passing of Jefferson Thomas comes as a disappointment and veil of sadness for many, who also say, it's a great reminder of an important time in history that changed not just Little Rock and the state of Arkansas, but the entire nation.
Governor Beebe says, "Those were 15-, 16-, 17-year-old kids, and you see pictures of that mob and that violence. It took great courage for a kid. It would have been hard for an adult, but especially a youngster."
Jefferson Thomas is described as a unique teenager who never lost his smile, who was always laughing and making jokes. Thomas was a role model for students who followed in his footsteps as an accomplished individual, because the path for him and his fellow classmates was not easy.
The Little Rock 9 walked the halls of Central High School with dignity and grace, holding their heads high even though they were scared. Ivory Tillman is the president of the Jacksonville Chapter of the NAACP. He says, he knows they must have been scared, but they didn't show it.
"It was a wonderful thing that they did for the rest of the country that started the movement in the south as far as integration of the schools were concerned."
Tillman hopes it's that courage, strength and perseverance people today will respect and admire.
While the death of Jefferson Thomas is still new for many, there is already talk of having a special memorial tribute for him sometime in the coming weeks. Jefferson Thomas died at the age of 68.
