Thelma Mothershed Wair signs her initials that were later welded onto a metal plate that will be affixed to Virginia-class submarine Arkansas (SSN 800).

Remembering Thelma Mothershed Wair

Published October 21, 2024

I was sa​ddened to hear Thelma Mothershed Wair, one of the ship’s sponsors for Virginia-class submarine Arkansas (SSN 800), passed away over the weekend. She was a member of the historic group known as the Little Rock Nine, the first African American students to attend all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, during desegregation. It was an honor to welcome Thelma and other members of the Little Rock Nine to Newport News Shipbuilding in 2022 to celebrate SSN 800’s keel laying.

As teenagers, Thelma and the other members of the Little Rock Nine helped change our nation’s history. She then dedicated her career to education – spending decades as a teacher and counselor. Her inspirational legacy lives on through all of us, and through SSN 800 and the generations of U.S. Navy sailors who will serve on the submarine.

I hope you all will join me in sending heartfelt condolences to Thelma’s family and friends.

​Respectfully,
Jennifer Boykin
President, Newport News Shipbuilding