Charles Person, youngest original member of The Freedom Riders, laid to rest
Remembering Charles Person
Funeral services took place Friday for the youngest original member of the civil rights group The Freedom Riders. Charles Person died at his Fayetteville home last week.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. - Funeral services were held Friday for Charles Person, the youngest original member of the Freedom Riders, who passed away last week at his home in Fayetteville.
He was 82.
Who was Charles Person?
What we know:
Person was just 18 years old when he joined the group of activists, including the late Congressman John Lewis, to challenge racial segregation in the Deep South. The Freedom Riders faced significant violence and hostility as they traveled through the region, but their efforts were instrumental in bringing national attention to the civil rights movement and ultimately led to the enforcement of federal desegregation laws.
Born in 1942, Person was a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement, celebrated for his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and nonviolent activism. Following the civil rights era of the 1960s, he served in the United States Marine Corps for 20 years, retiring in 1981.
What are The Freedom Riders?
Dig deeper:
In 2021, Person co-founded the Freedom Riders Training Academy to teach about nonviolent protest and constitutional rights. His efforts were recognized with numerous honors, and he remained active in sharing his experiences, often speaking to schoolchildren and supporting various initiatives for a better society.
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: This article is based on the proceedings during his funeral on Jan. 24, 2025. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reports were also used with links in the article.