Youngest original 'Freedom Rider' dies in Fayetteville at 82
FAYETTEVILLE, GA- MAR 08: Charles Person at his home in Fayetteville, Georgia on March 08, 2024. Person is one of only two surviving original 13 freedom riders from the history making 1961 civil rights effort. Person holds a photo showing the inciden
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. - Charles Person, an Atlanta native known as the youngest of the original 13 Freedom Riders, has died at 82. He passed away peacefully at his Fayetteville home surrounded by loved ones.
Person was born Sept. 27, 1942. He was a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement, celebrated for his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and nonviolent activism. He was also a Vietnam War veteran who retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1981.
After retirement, he worked with the Atlanta Public School System as an electronics technician.
"Charles was not only my life partner but a tireless advocate for justice and equality," said his wife, Jo Etta Person. "His passion for nonviolence, peace, and education touched countless lives. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on through the Freedom Riders Training Academy and the lasting change he inspired."
Who were the Freedom Riders?
Born and raised in Atlanta, Person was deeply involved in the Atlanta Student Movement. He attended Morehouse College, but at 18, he left school to board a bus headed for Washington, D.C. to prepare for what would be known worldwide as the "Freedom Rides." In the nation's capital in 1961, he underwent 12 days of intense training in nonviolent resistance under the leadership of James Farmer from the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).
Then, Person, along with six other Black people and six white people, boarded two buses headed for the deep South where segregation was still alive and well, despite being illegal.
Person and his fellow riders faced extreme violence as they sought to enforce the Supreme Court's Boynton v. Virginia (1960) ruling against segregation in interstate travel facilities.
On Mother's Day, just outside Anniston, Alabama, one of the buses was burned by a white mob, believed to be the Ku Klux Klan, that brutally attacked the riders. The U.S. Justice Department had to intervene and evacuate most of the Freedom Riders, but they refused to allow violence to be the end of their story.
Future "Freedom Riders" felt compelled to join the movement, and quickly resumed the rides. By the summer of 1961, there were more than 400 participants.
As a result, the Interstate Commerce Commission ordered the removal of the "Colored Only" and "Whites Only" signs at bus terminals across the country that fall.
These are the names of the original 13 Freedom Riders, from oldest to youngest:
- Walter Bergman
- Frances Bergman
- Albert Bigelow
- James Peck
- James L. Farmer, Jr.
- Rev. B. Elton Cox
- Genevieve Hughes
- Joe Perkins
- Jimmy McDonald
- Ed Blankenheim
- Former Rep. John R. Lewis
- Hank Thomas*
- Charles Person
*Henry "Hank" James Thomas, of Florida, is the last surviving original Freedom Rider.
Original Freedom Riders: Charles Person's role
As one of the original 13 Freedom Riders, Person played a crucial role in challenging segregation on interstate buses in the South in 1961. Despite facing brutal attacks, including a near-fatal beating in Alabama, he remained steadfast in his dedication to racial equality.
His 2021 memoir, "Buses Are a Comin’: Memoir of a Freedom Rider," offers a personal reflection on his journey and the broader Civil Rights Movement.
Charles Person's legacy
Throughout his life, Person continued to advocate for peaceful dialogue and education, empowering communities and encouraging young people to engage in social justice.
In 2021, Person co-founded the Freedom Riders Training Academy (FRTA) to teach about nonviolent protest and constitutional rights.
His efforts were recognized with numerous honors and ribbons, and he remained active in sharing his experiences, often speaking to schoolchildren and supporting various initiatives for a better society.
One of Person's last projects was preparing to launch FRTAcademy.org in February 2025.
In lieu of flowers, Person's family asks that donations be made in his name to the Freedom Riders Park Non-Endowed Fund.
The Source: Information about Charles Person's legacy was provided by a spokesperson for the Freedom Riders Training Academy. Facts about Person's involvement in the Freedom Rides were derived from The Southern Poverty Law Center's Learning for Justice, The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), Stanford University, and local media archives.