Eva Clayton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eva Clayton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 1st district
In office November 3, 1992 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Walter Jones
Succeeded by	Frank Ballance
Personal details
Born	Eva McPherson (1934-09-16) September 16, 1934 (age 90) Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	T. T. Clayton (deceased 2019)
Education	Johnson C. Smith University (BS) North Carolina Central University (MS)

Eva Clayton (born September 16, 1934) is an American politician from North Carolina. She made history when she joined the United States House of Representatives in 1992. Clayton became the first African American person to represent North Carolina in the House since 1898. She was re-elected and served for five terms. After her time in Congress, Clayton was appointed to a leadership role at the United Nations's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy.

Early Life and Education

Eva McPherson was born in Savannah, Georgia. Her father, Thomas McPherson, worked as an insurance agent. Her mother, Josephine Martin, was a teacher.

Eva graduated from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1955. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. In 1956, she married Theaoseus Clayton. He also graduated from Johnson C. Smith University.

After they married, Eva and Theaoseus Clayton both continued their studies. They pursued graduate degrees at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. Eva earned her Master of Science degree in 1962.

The Claytons later moved to Warrenton, North Carolina. There, Theaoseus started his career as a lawyer. Eva also studied law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Political Career and Public Service

Early Steps in Politics

In 1968, civil rights leader Vernon Jordan wanted to help more Black people get involved in politics. He met with Theaoseus Clayton to find a Black candidate for public office in eastern North Carolina. They decided that Eva would be a great choice. Later that year, she ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She challenged the person already in office, Lawrence H. Fountain, but did not win that election.

Clayton also worked on a community development project called Soul City in Warren County, North Carolina. From 1977 to 1981, she served as the Assistant Secretary for Community Development. This role was part of the North Carolina State Department of Natural Resources and Community Development.

Serving Warren County

From 1982 to 1992, Eva Clayton was an elected member of the Warren County Board of Commissioners. She also served as the chair of the board. This experience helped her prepare for her future roles.

Making History in Congress

In 1992, Eva Clayton was elected to the United States House of Representatives. She represented the 1st congressional district in North Carolina as a Democrat. At the same time, she won a special election to finish the last few months of Congressman Walter B. Jones Sr.'s term.

For 92 years, no Black candidates had been elected to Congress from North Carolina. This was because the state had changed its constitution in 1899 to prevent Black citizens from voting. When Representative Walter Jones Sr. decided to retire in 1992, Clayton ran for his seat. The congressional district had recently been redrawn by the state. It was one of two districts in North Carolina that had a majority of Black voters.

In 1992, Eva Clayton and Mel Watt became the first African Americans elected to the House from North Carolina since 1898. Because Clayton won a special election, she took office before Watt. Watt's district, the 12th congressional district, was also designed to help African Americans elect candidates of their choice. This was done to follow the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Leadership in Congress

Eva Clayton quickly gained attention in Congress. She became the president of her group of new Democratic members. During her ten years as a Congresswoman, Clayton served on important committees. She was on the House Agriculture Committee. She was also a top member of subcommittees focused on the United States Department of Agriculture's operations, nutrition, and forestry.

She also served on the House Budget and Small Business Committees. Clayton played a key role in creating laws for the Department of Agriculture. She helped write the 2002 Farm Bill. She is recognized for her leadership in getting support for nutrition programs. She also helped ensure civil rights and support for African American farmers in the final version of the Farm Bill.

Clayton showed more leadership by being a co-chair of the Rural Caucus. This group worked on issues important to rural areas. She also chaired the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

2000 Presidential Election

In 2001, Clayton and other members of the House of Representatives raised concerns about the electoral votes from Florida. George W. Bush had won Florida by a very small number of votes after a close recount in the 2000 presidential election. However, no senator joined her objection, so it was not considered.

Work with the United Nations

In 2003, Eva Clayton was appointed to a high-level position at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. She became the Assistant Director-General and Special Adviser to the Director-General. Her work focused on following up on the World Food Summit goals in Rome, Italy.

She served in this role for three years. She was responsible for creating global partnerships to fight hunger and poverty. She worked in twenty-four countries, including the United States, Brazil, Ghana, and Jordan. Eva Clayton continues to be a strong supporter for people who are hungry and poor. She also promotes farming methods that are good for the environment and fair for everyone around the world.

Current Activities and Recognition

Today, Clayton works as a consultant. She is the founder of Eva Clayton Associates International (ECAI). This company provides advice in different areas of government.

She has received eight honorary doctorate degrees. She is also an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Clayton is an Elder at Cotton Memorial Presbyterian Church in Henderson, North Carolina. She serves on several boards that work on hunger, agriculture, and state policy issues. These include the United States Alliance to End Hunger, the Global Food Banking Network, and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems.

In November 2022, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper gave Clayton the 2022 North Carolina Award. This is the highest honor a civilian can receive from the state.

Her husband, Theaoseus T. Clayton Sr., passed away in 2019 at the age of 88. They had four children and six grandchildren.

See also

• List of African-American United States representatives
• Women in the United States House of Representatives