clarence and his brother were sent to live with his mother's parents in savannah, georgia. his grandfather wanted him to become a priest. thomas was sent to st. john vianney minor seminary, an all-white boarding school near savannah. in 1968 he transferred to the college of the holy cross in worcester, massachusetts. he gave up all ideas of becoming a priest after the death of martin luther king jr.. thomas then obtained a law degree at yale university.