Many are mourning the loss of an Arkansan who inspired change for the better and changed African-American education across the nation.

Thelma Mothershed Wair, one of the nine Black students who integrated a high school in Arkansas’ capital city of Little Rock in 1957 while a mob of white segregationists yelled threats and insults, has died at age 83.

In 1957, Mrs. Mothershed Wair and eight other Black students enrolled at Little Rock Central High School. They faced racist mobs and were escorted by federal troops.