Rev. Dr. Thomas Shields was called to the ministry while serving in the Air Force. He pastored his first church in Puerto Rico and then entered the seminary at Virginia Union University. Upon completing his degree, he pastored a church in Richmond before accepting a position as pastor at the Historic First Baptist Church where he served for many years.

During his career, he was a force for change throughout the community. In the oral history below, Rev. Dr. Shields chronicles his many efforts to address diversity and equity in the community. He partnered with W&M students to support Colonial Williamsburg employees in forming a union, which included an historic march down Duke of Gloucestor Street, and welcomed leaders of the second March on Washington to First Baptist Church. He also supported Black faculty at William & Mary. Within the spiritual community, he served as the President of the Tri-County Pastors Council and was the first Black President of the integrated Williamsburg Pastors Council. He also discusses his efforts to launch a Minority Achievement Coordinating Committee in partnership with William & Mary students to advocate for the rights of minority students in the Williamsburg-James City County Schools. He reflects on his view that William & Mary has both played a role in marginalizing Black students, faculty, and community and has been a force for change as W&M students and faculty have supported activism in the Black community.