Elna Spaulding facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elna Spaulding
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|
|---|---|
| Member of the Durham County Board of Commissioners | |
| In office 1974–1984 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Elna Virginia Bridgeforth
January 23, 1909 Tuskegee, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | January 7, 2007 (aged 97) Durham, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Asa T. Spaulding
(m. 1933; died 1990) |
| Children | 4, including Kenneth |
| Parents |
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| Education | Talladega College (MusB) |
Elna Virginia Bridgeforth Spaulding (born January 23, 1909, died January 7, 2007) was an important American leader and politician. She made history by becoming the first African American woman to serve on the Board of Commissioners for Durham County. She held this position from 1974 to 1984.
Elna Spaulding's Early Life and Education
Elna Virginia Bridgeforth was born on January 23, 1909. Her birthplace was the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. Her father, George Ruffin Bridgeforth, was a dairy farmer and a teacher at Tuskegee. Her mother was Datie Bridgeforth.
Elna went to Trinity High School in Athens, Alabama, and finished in 1926. She then studied at Talladega College, earning a music degree in 1930.
After college, Elna moved to Durham, North Carolina in 1930. She taught music in Durham's public schools for one year. From 1931 to 1933, she led the music department at Winston-Salem Teachers College. In 1933, she married Asa T. Spaulding Sr..
Serving Durham County as a Commissioner
Elna Spaulding was first chosen to be on the Durham County Board of Commissioners in 1974. This board helps make important decisions for the county. She received the most votes among all the candidates running for the position.
She was the first African American woman ever elected to this board. Elna Spaulding was re-elected four more times, serving two-year terms each time. She worked on the Board of Commissioners until she retired in 1984.
In 2001, Duke University honored Elna Spaulding. They gave her the William C. Friday Award for Moral Leadership. This award recognized her strong moral character and leadership skills.
Elna Spaulding's Family and Lasting Impact
Elna Bridgeforth and Asa T. Spaulding were married on June 24, 1933. They had four children together: Asa T. Jr., Patricia Ann, Aaron Lowery, and Kenneth Bridgeforth. Asa Spaulding Sr. passed away in 1990.
Elna Spaulding died on January 7, 2007, in Durham. She was 97 years old. Her granddaughter, Pam Spaulding, is a well-known writer and activist.
The Elna B. Spaulding Conflict Resolution Center in Durham is named after her. This center helps people solve problems peacefully. Naming it after her shows her lasting impact on the community.
