Frances Freeborn Pauley facts for kids

Frances Freeborn Pauley (born September 11, 1905 – died February 16, 2003) was an important civil rights leader in Georgia. She worked hard to fight against unfair treatment and racism. Her efforts helped to end segregation and bring people of all races together in the South.

Growing Up and School

Frances Pauley was born on September 11, 1905, in Wadsworth, Ohio. Her parents were William and Josephine Freeborn. She had one brother, William. When she was three years old, her family moved to Decatur, Georgia. This city is in DeKalb County.

Frances went to Decatur High School. After that, she attended Agnes Scott College. In 1927, she earned a degree in Mathematics. Growing up in both the Midwest and the South helped shape her views.

Fighting for Fairness

Frances Pauley started working in public service during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people faced hardship. She formed a church group with other women. They worked to provide food and help to poor people in DeKalb County.

Her group raised money to give lunches to all students. They also set up a medical clinic in Decatur. This helped people who could not get basic healthcare. Frances was a strong voice for racial integration in her community. As president of the League of Women Voters, she changed rules. These rules had only allowed white women to join.

Frances gained support from other leaders. One of these was Martin Luther King Jr.. In 1960, she became the executive director of the Georgia Council on Human Relations. Here, she continued to work for integration in schools. She also pushed for community groups. These groups helped people of different races work together.

In 1968, Frances Pauley was appointed to the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. She worked to continue ending segregation in schools. She also helped protect schools in Georgia and across the country. Frances retired from this department in 1973.

Her Impact

Frances Pauley held many important roles during her career. She was a key figure in the civil rights movement. Her positions included:

• President of the DeKalb County League of Women Voters
• President of the Georgia chapter of the League of Women Voters
• Head of the Georgia Council on Human Relations
• An administrator in the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare

In all these roles, Frances Pauley worked for equality. She actively tried to include African Americans in institutions. Her work made her an important person in the southern civil rights movement. In 2015, she was honored by being added to the Georgia Women of Achievement.

Her Family Life

After graduating from Agnes Scott College in 1927, Frances Pauley helped with plays. She worked on theatrical productions in DeKalb County and Atlanta, Georgia. While directing a play, she met William Crooks Pauley. He was a landscape architect.

Frances and William married on May 25, 1930. They stayed married throughout their lives. They had two daughters: Joan Pauley Lamb and Marylin Pauley Beittel.