Thomas F. Freeman
Age: 100 on Thursday Residence: Houston Birthplace: Richmond, Va. Education: Graduated from high school at 15; a bachelor’s degree in English from Virginia Union University; a bachelor’s degree in divinity from Andover Newton Seminary in Massachusetts; and doctorate in homiletics — the art of preaching— from the University of Chicago in 1948.
CAREER
Called to preach at age 9. Ministered at Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Richmond, Va. Visiting professor and guest lecturer at numerous universities, including Morehouse in Atlanta and Virginia Union. In 1949, began working as a professor and head debate coach at Texas Southern University
Currently, TSU debate team’s head coach emeritus.
PERSONAL
Freeman, the fourth out of 15 children, wasn’t supposed to live past the age of 7, he said. Doctors said he had an undiagnosable illness, but Freeman, who grew up in a religious household, said his mother and community members prayed for him and he miraculously got better. By age 9, he was delivering his first sermon and knew he had been called by God to preach. He’d set out for his education but decided at a young age that he would not get married until he obtained his doctorate degree. “It wasn’t easy,” he said. “I had to turn my head many times.” Freeman finally married his wife Clarice, now 98, in 1953, with whom he now has three children, four grandchildren, and one greatgrandchild.