Thomas Lister Platt

Thomas Lister Platt, 96, transitioned from Earth to Eternity on November 18, 2025, in Atlanta, GA. He was born to the late Robert and Mary Platt in Baltimore, MD at Johns Hopkins Hospital. After graduating from high school, Thomas enlisted in the U. S. Army. His military career spanned 22 years during which he served with distinction as a member of the 710th Military Police stationed in Kyushu, Japan.

After his honorable discharge, Thomas and the love of his life, Willie Andrews Platt, settled in Henderson, KY, where he became a pillar of the community. He was named a Kentucky Colonel, was a Commissioner for the Henderson Housing Authority, a very active member of Green River Area Development District (GRADD), and the Audubon Area Community Services, just to name a few of Thomas’ affiliations. A humble person, Thomas always thought

about the needs of people and helping others get ahead. He was especially passionate about youth and encouraged them to take advantage of educational opportunities. To broaden his own education, he attended Henderson Community College after his military career. Thomas worked for the Earle C. Clements Job Corps Center as head of the Department of Disciplinary Standards for many years.

Thomas Platt was known as a consistent, loyal, faithful, community activist who was true to whatever cause he undertook. In the early years of the civil rights movement in Henderson, he was the right-hand man to the late Rev. Anthony Brooks, then president of the NAACP for over 40 years. In the 1970s, Thomas advocated publicly for Blacks to be hired as teachers and school principals, to serve on the city police and fire department and to obtain employment with companies in Henderson. As a member of the Henderson Housing Authority, Thomas advocated for affordable, safe housing for the community. He was instrumental in the revitalization of the Martin Luther King corridor. Through this initiative many affordable homes were built. The Housing Authority earned numerous awards, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Public Housing Authority of the Year for Kentucky in 2005 and the Kentucky Housing Association’s Large Public Housing Authority of the Year in 2019.

The Cabell-Platt Medical Center opened in 2005 and bears Thomas’ name, along with that of longtime dentist, pharmacist and Acme Drug Store owner Roger W. “Doc” Cabell, provides quality preventive and primary health care to medically underserved and uninsured people.

As one of the founders of the black history committee, a scholarship bearing Thomas Platt’s name is funded by money raised by the annual Henderson Dust Bowl basketball tournament at the John F. Kennedy Center. In February 2024, Platt was one of three local African Americans honored at the Henderson County Public Library’s A Night of Excellence event that coincided with Black History Month. Platt received the Legacy of Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with the Black History Committee, local government and advocacy.

He was a dedicated member of Greater Norris Chapel for more than 60 years where he was a Trustee, a member of the Usher Board, and Van Driver for the Transportation Ministry. He served his church faithfully until his health prohibited him from doing so.

In addition to his parents, Thomas is preceded in death by siblings, John, Cleve, Bobby, Billy, Rudolph, and Doris.

He leaves to cherish loving memories, his wife of 72 years, Willie Andrews Platt; daughters, Anita Payne, Thomasine Leachman (Rodney), and Celeste Gainey; grandchildren, Tyler Gainey, Austin Leachman, Dallas Payne, and William Leachman; 4 great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends all of whom will strive to live up to the legacy of a dedicated Christian man who gave his life to his church and community.

In lieu of flowers, friends may donate to:

The Black History Committee

Thomas L. Platt Scholarship Fund

886 Lamont Lane

Henderson, KY  42420