Thereasea Elder facts for kids

Thereasea Delerine "T. D." Elder (born September 2, 1927, died January 5, 2021) was a very important person in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was the first African American public health nurse in that city. A public health nurse helps people in their communities stay healthy and learn about good health habits.

Early Life and Education

Thereasea Elder was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was the sixth child in her family. Her father worked as a porter, and her mother worked in homes. Thereasea remembered her childhood as wonderful. Her family taught her how important education and faith were, and these ideas guided her whole life.

From a young age, Thereasea knew she wanted to work in healthcare. When she was a student at West Charlotte High School, she started working at Charlotte Memorial Hospital. Because of segregation at that time, she mostly worked behind the scenes and did not often interact with patients.

She attended West Charlotte High School in its first year, 1938. After high school, she went to Johnson C. Smith University for a year. Later, she moved to North Carolina Central University to study nursing. Thereasea said her time at North Carolina Central University was "eye-opening." The university gave students chances to help their communities.

A Career in Public Health

In 1948, Thereasea Elder began working at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Charlotte. That same year, she married Willie Elder, who was a veteran from World War II and ran a service station. While working at Good Samaritan Hospital, she also completed a special program. This program was for public health nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 1962, she started her job as a public health nurse for Mecklenburg County. In this role, she would visit communities. She would do health checks for people and give them their prescribed medicines. Her success was clear: fewer students missed school, and families learned more about staying healthy.

Breaking Barriers in Nursing

Mecklenburg County gave Thereasea Elder an important task. She was asked to help break down racial barriers in public health services. Along with another African American nurse, she was assigned to areas that were mostly white. At first, she faced doubt and heard disrespectful words. Thereasea even treated patients in areas known for the Ku Klux Klan in Charlotte. But over time, she built strong, trusting relationships with her new patients, just like she had with her previous ones.

Thereasea Elder worked for the Mecklenburg County Health Department until she retired in 1989.

Community Involvement and Recognition

Beyond her nursing career, Thereasea Elder was very dedicated to improving her community. She received recognition from both local and state groups. She was the president of the Greenville Historical Association. She was also an active member of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women.

She founded the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Black Historical Society. She also served on the Board of the Greater Carolinas Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 2013, Johnson C. Smith University honored her for her work. She had done a lot to strengthen the Rockwell neighborhood.

In 2001, Governor Mike Easley gave her the Order of the Long-Leaf Pine. This award is for people who do "great service to [their] community [and] the state." The Thereasea Clark Elder Neighborhood Park was also created in her honor by the Charlotte Parks and Recreation Department.