Thelma Mothershed Wair, a pivotal figure in American civil rights history and one of the Little Rock Nine who bravely desegregated Central High School in 1957, has passed away at the age of 83. She succumbed to complications from multiple sclerosis on Saturday in Little Rock, as confirmed by her sister, Grace Davis. The members of the Little Rock Nine faced immense hostility as white segregationists attempted to thwart their entry into the school, necessitating President Eisenhower's intervention via the Army's 101st Airborne Division to ensure their protection.
Despite racial hostility in Little Rock, Davis recalled, "People would say things that were mean, but they never really hurt anybody." Wair persisted through these challenges, completing her education despite the temporary closure of schools by Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus in 1958 in an effort to avoid more integration. She managed to graduate due to transferred academic credits after completing her courses out of state. Wair's resilience extended beyond her youth; she overcame a congenital heart defect that initially cast doubt on her survival into adulthood.
Beyond her role in the desegregation movement, Wair achieved a bachelor's degree in home economics and a master's in counseling. She devoted nearly three decades to education, serving as a teacher and counselor in Illinois. A recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, Wair also worked at a juvenile detention center and the American Red Cross. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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