Author Frank Sikora, who penned the book “Selma, Lord, Selma” has died. He was 80.

The journalist’s first book was “Selma, Lord, Selma,” which Disney later turned into a made for television movie.

The book and movie were based on the real life story of Sheyann Webb-Christburg, the youngest marcher to participate in the protest that would become known as Bloody Sunday in March 1965.

“Frank Sikora has contributed so much to my life since I first met him. I owe so much to this man,” Webb-Christburg said.

Webb-Christburg said she would always remember Sikora for the way he told her story.

“He was a person with a big heart and a great spirit. He had an extraordinary way of wanting to allow people like myself, an opportunity for their stories to be heard and told,” Webb-Christburg said.

Sikora authored other books that shed light on the civil rights movement including ‘’Until Justice Rolls Down: The Birmingham Church Bombing Case,’’ which was published in 1991.

“Frank was a great writer. Many people favored his work because of the kinds of stories he told. If it wasn’t for him I don’t think many of them would have ever been heard,” Webb-Christburg said.

Sikora spent many years building a career as a journalist. He worked at The Birmingham News for over 30 years.

Sikora’s granddaughter Schascha Smith remembers him as someone who cared about the wellbeing of others and said although he was a native of Ohio, he came to think of Birmingham as home.

“He was very humble, very loving, he didn’t care who you were, or what you did, if you needed help, he’d be there. He’d always show a sense of humor and make you smile even in a sad situation,” Smith said.

According to Smith, Sikora died of natural causes shortly after he turned 80 on March 18. He had six children. A funeral service was held Monday at Gray Brown-Service Mortuary in Anniston. Burial followed at Bethlehem Baptist Cemetery in Oxford.