RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) - Richmond’s first African American mayor Henry Marsh III died at 91 years old on Friday.  Marsh was a political trailblazer, with his impact spanning far beyond Richmond and his time as mayor.   “Mr. Marsh is a legitimate hero,” said Hanover NAACP president Pat Jordan, who knew Marsh personally and professionally for 15 years. “Lots of people throw that term around loosely, but he is what I feel that we're missing a lot of in these crucial days.”  Jordan said Marsh’s journey to political leadership began in his early educational high school days. He earned his bachelor's degree from Virginia Union University, followed by a law degree from Howard University. After serving in the military, he returned to Richmond to practice as a civil rights lawyer and eventually joined the city council.  “He came in and worked within the city, didn't just reach for the high goals at first, but then he finally became the mayor of Richmond," Jordan said. Jordan said while Marsh was Richmond’s mayor, he knew that the city needed to support surrounding counties.  “I was able to get him to come to Hanover schools to sit down and just be with the kids,” she said. “We would talk about the needs of our people when we sat and talk.”  She said this is a great testament to Marsh’s character, in and out of work.  “That's the only reason we're put on this earth—to help each other. And Mr. Marsh knew that. He believed in that," Jordan said.   Marsh was instrumental in upholding the Brown v. Board of Education decision in Virginia and fought against racial discrimination in employment. Marsh served in Virginia’s senate until 2014, at the age of 81.  "These men never stopped. Even in the last two years, and he was still abreast of what was happening and could give you advice," Jordan said. "And I'm looking for those coming behind Mr. Marsh to say, 'Where are you?'"  Jordan said the most important thing people can do to honor Marsh’s legacy today is to continue fighting for what you believe in.