Funeral services are now finalized for one of North Carolina’s giants of higher education, who lived in Raleigh. Dr. Cleon F. Thompson will be laid to rest Friday in Raleigh.
In 1977, Thompson became one of Duke University’s first Black
.
He was a biology professor and administrator at
. He served a year as interim chancellor at
.
He then went on to become
chancellor at Winston-Salem State
for a decade.
“As we mourn the loss of a visionary and transformative leader, let us remember
for the enduring legacy he leaves behind,” WSSU Interim Chancellor Anthony Graham wrote in a statement. “His impact on our university will be felt for generations to come.”
Thompson died on Saturday, January 27. His
is now set for Friday morning at Baptist Grove Church on Leesville Road.
Dr. Thompson was 92 years old.