Little Rock Nine’s Mothershed passes

Dr. Thelma Mothershed- one of the famous “Little Rock Nine” passed away on October 19, 2024. Mothershed was born in Bloomburg, Texas on November 29, 1940. She and eight other black students were handpicked by the NAACP to attend the previously all-white Little Rock Central High, selected on the criteria of excellent grades and attendance along with a fortitude to persevere.

The Little Rock Nine’s story came on the heels of the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. However, implementation of this ruling faced fierce resistance in many Southern states, including Arkansas.

Governor Orval Faubus, defying federal law, mobilized the Arkansas National Guard to block the Black students from entering the school. This act sparked a national crisis, drawing the attention of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

President Eisenhower eventually intervened, deploying federal troops to escort the students to school and ensure their safety. This historic movement marked a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement, demonstrating the federal government’s commitment to upholding the principles of equality enshrined in the Constitution.

However, the nine students were frequently insulted, facing verbal and even physical abuse.

Mothershed was the eldest member of the Little Rock Nine group, who attended Little Rock’s Central High School.

After her junior year the schools in Little Rock (Pulaski County) canceled classes in what is now known as the lost year in 1958–59 in an attempt to halt the desegregation of the schools. This left some students stranded unless they were able to take extra courses (like Mothershed did).

To earn the necessary credits for graduation she took correspondence courses and attended summer school in St. Louis, Missouri. Despite the efforts to stop segregation, Mothershed was still able to receive her diploma from Central High School by mail.

Afterwards, Mothershed attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she studied home economics.

After graduating in 1964 from SIU, she earned her master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling and an Administrative Certificate in Education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1970 and 1972, respectively. Mothershed taught home economics in the East St. Louis School System for 28 years.

Following receiving her degrees, Mothershed worked at the St. Clair County Jail, Juvenile Detention Center in St. Clair County, Illinois, and as an Instructor of Survival Skills for Women at an American Red Cross shelter.

In 1958, she received the Spingarn Medal from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for outstanding achievement.

During the 1989–90 school year she was honored as an Outstanding Role Model by the East St. Louis Chapter of the Top Ladies of Distinction and the Early Childhood– Pre-Kindergarten staff of District 189.

She also received the National Humanitarian Award, the highest award given at the 2005 National Convention of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. held in Chicago.

In 1998, Mothershed received the Congressional Gold Medal.

She received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2016.

“Ms. Wair exemplifies and lives SIUE’s values of wisdom, citizenship, integrity, excellence and inclusion,” SIUE Interim Chancellor Stephen Hansen said. “While SIUE provided her with an education, she in turn taught all of us about courage, justice and dignity.”

*See references and notes on Wikipedia.com where much of the source work was taken from.