Jefferson Thomas Sr

Jefferson Thomas was born September 19, 1942 in Little Rock, Arkansas to Ellis and Jessie Thomas. He departed this life Sunday, September 5, 2010. Jefferson Thomas leaves to cherish his memory, beloved wife Mary; sons; Jefferson Thomas Jr., Frank Harper Jr.; daughter: Marilyn (Timothy) Carter; grandchild; Amber (Collin) Alleyne; great grandchild, Tahlia Alleyne; brothers, Horace Thomas, Grandville (Kim) Thomas Sr.; Ellis (Jessie) Thomas Jr.; sisters; Alma Hildreth, Mary Alice Jackson, Ruth Sawyer, Jessie Agee; mother-in-¬law, Nellie Alexander and a host of other relatives and friends. Jefferson was well known as one of the Little Rock Nine, the nine students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. As a 15-year-old, Jefferson was one of the nine African-American students who braved segregationist mobs to integrate the all-white school under the protection of military forces. He was a charter member and Treasurer of the Little Rock Nine Foundation. Jefferson loved the Lord and at the time of his passing, he was a dedicated member of The First Church of God in Christ in Columbus, Ohio.