Thomasville in Thomas County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Thomas County Honors African-American Leaders

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 2, 2021

1. Thomas County Honors African-American Leaders Marker

Inscription. Elijah Hill, Jr. • Clarice A. Hobbs • Curtis Thomas
William A. Morris • Reverend I.L. Mullins • Helen Clark
On August 11, 1975, the Thomasville Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and six African-American citizens, whose names are listed above, filed a class action suit in the United States District Court (Middle District of Georgia, Thomasville Division) against the Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues for Thomas County. The suit asked a federal court to declare the county's at-large election system unconstitutional and to devise a new single member district reapportionment plan. The suit claimed the at-large system was discriminatory; denied the County's Black population access "to the political process"; and frustrated "their right to, and opportunity for, full, unabridged and undiluted participation in the electoral process of Thomas County." The county's at large election requirements, coupled with the racial voting patterns, rendered Blacks powerless to elect commissioners who could represent their interests.

In 1983, Federal Judge J. Robert Elliott signed a consent order directing Thomas County to hold a special election on May 3, 1983 to elect a new slate of commissioners. This special election, approved by the Georgia Legislature and signed

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by Governor Joe Frank Harris, designated eight single member districts, two of which would have black populations of approximately 73 percent and 85 percent, respectfully.

William "Bill" A. Morris and Elijah Hill, Jr. were elected to the Thomas County Board of Commissioners. They faithfully served all Thomas County citizens.

Special acknowledgment goes to the Jack Hadley Black History Memorabilia, Inc. for its efforts to commemorate this historic struggle.

February 2006

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Government & Politics • Law Enforcement. A significant historical date for this entry is August 11, 1975.

Location. 30° 50.323′ N, 83° 58.91′ W. Marker is in Thomasville, Georgia, in Thomas County. Marker can be reached from North Broad Street just south of West Washington Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is mounted at eye-level just outside the Broad Street entrance of the former Thomas County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 225 North Broad Street, Thomasville GA 31792, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Thomas County (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas County Confederate Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Post Office (about 300 feet away,

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 2, 2021

2. Thomas County Honors African-American Leaders Marker

(courthouse entrance is to the right • West Jefferson Street visible in left background)

measured in a direct line); The Big Oak (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Plaza Restaurant (approx. ¼ mile away); Flowers Baking Company (approx. 0.3 miles away); Old Coffee Road (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Black Graduate of West Point (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thomasville.

Also see . . . Thomasville Branch of Nat. Ass'n for Advancement of Colored People v. Thomas County, Georgia.

Appellants filed this action on August 11, 1975, to challenge the at-large method of electing county commissioners in Thomas County, Georgia. They make two distinct allegations. The first is that the at-large feature of the commission elections works to dilute the votes of blacks in the county (who constitute 35.4% Of the voting population) in violation of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the Constitution and of 42 U.S.C. §§ 1971(a), 1973, 1981, and 1983 (1970). The second is that the subdistricts within the county, from which the commission candidates are required to run, are of excessively disparate populations in violation of these same constitutional and statutory
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 2, 2021

3. Historic Thomas County Courthouse
(marker is visible just inside archway on far left)
provisions.

(Submitted on May 14, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 150 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 14, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.