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Savannah State University to Host Historic Program Honoring the Life and Legacy of Thurgood Marshall

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Monday, September 21st, 2026

Savannah State University will host a historic evening exploring the life, legacy and lasting impact of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the King-Frazier Student Center. The program will feature a panel discussion with all Chatham County Superior Court judges, a reception, a screening of the award-nominated documentary Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect and a live conversation with Marshall’s granddaughter, Cecilia Marshall.
The event marks the first time all Chatham County Superior Court judges have appeared together on Savannah State University’s campus.
 
“Justice Thurgood Marshall’s life reminds us of the transformative power of education, courage and service,” said Dr. Jermaine Whirl, president of Savannah State University. “As Georgia’s oldest public HBCU, Savannah State is proud to create a space where our students and community can engage directly with his legacy and consider how they, too, can use their education and talents to create meaningful change. We are especially honored to welcome our Chatham County Superior Court judges and Ms. Cecilia Marshall to campus for this historic occasion.”
 
The evening will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Elmore Theater with the Chatham County Superior Court Judges’ Panel Discussion. The judges will explore Justice Marshall’s profound influence on American law, his impact on their own careers, the mentors who helped shape their professional journeys and their individual development as jurists.
 
“Justice Marshall’s legacy extends far beyond the courtroom. His work fundamentally changed the legal landscape of our nation and expanded opportunities for generations of Americans,” said Attorney Flora Devine, vice president and chief legal affairs officer at Savannah State University. “To bring our Chatham County Superior Court judges together on this campus to reflect on his influence, and to hear directly from his granddaughter, creates a powerful opportunity to connect history, law and education in a way that we hope will inspire our students and our entire community.”
 
A reception will follow the panel discussion in the King-Frazier Student Center Ballroom.
 
At 6:30 p.m., attendees will return to the Elmore Theater for a screening of the award-nominated documentary Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect. The film chronicles Marshall’s journey, including his matriculation at two historically Black colleges and universities, his groundbreaking legal career and his eventual appointment as the first African American justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
 
Following the screening, Savannah State will host a live interview with Cecilia Marshall, granddaughter of Justice Thurgood Marshall and executive director of The Thurgood Marshall Foundation. Marshall will offer personal reflections on her grandfather and discuss his enduring impact on American law and society.
 
Event Schedule
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Savannah State University | King-Frazier Student Center
4:30 p.m. – Chatham County Superior Court Judges’ Panel Discussion
Elmore Theater
Reception – Immediately following the panel discussion
King-Frazier Student Center Ballroom
6:30 p.m. – Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect Documentary Screening
Elmore Theater
Following the Screening – Live Conversation with Cecilia Marshall
Elmore Theater
Both programs are free and open to the public. Advance registration is encouraged. Registration will close Monday, Sept. 14, at 1 p.m.
 
Thurgood Marshall’s legacy holds particular significance for historically Black colleges and universities. Marshall attended Lincoln University before earning his law degree from Howard University School of Law. His groundbreaking legal career included successfully arguing Brown v. Board of Education before the U.S. Supreme Court, and in 1967 he became the first African American appointed to serve as a justice on the nation’s highest court.
By bringing together members of the judiciary, the Savannah community and Marshall’s family, the Sept. 16 program will provide a unique opportunity to examine both the personal journey and national impact of one of the most consequential legal figures in American history.