Barbara Guillory Thompson, long-time faculty member at Dillard University in New Orleans, died on August 2 in McComb, Mississippi. She was 79 years old.
Dr. Thompson was a native of New Orleans and a graduate of Dillard University. She earned a master’s degree at Louisiana State University in 1960. She was the first African American women student to live in a dormitory on the LSU campus. After earning her master’s degree, Thompson was one of the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit seeking the racial integration of Tulane University. She later earned a Ph.D. at Tulane.
Dr. Thompson served on the Dillard University faculty for 42 years. She chaired the sociology department and the Division of Social Sciences. Dr. Thompson also was the first African American and the first woman to serve as chair of the New Orleans Civil Service Commission.
Barbara was a friendly, caring and polished intellectual. She was also a lady, as well as, an outstanding teacher who loved to impart knowledge to her students. I had the joy of working with her during my time at Dillard University.