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Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People
Women's National History Month
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
March is recognized as Women’s National History Month, a time to honor the profound contributions women have made to the social, political, cultural, and economic fabric of our nation. From trailblazing leaders and educators to activists, caregivers, innovators, and entrepreneurs, women have shaped history—often without recognition, but never without impact. This month invites us not only to reflect on the achievements of women past and present, but also to recommit ourselves to advancing equity, amplifying women’s voices, and supporting the next generation of women leaders who will continue to move our communities and country forward.
Celebrating Durham Trailblazers Who Tell Our Story
Edna Clayton Spaulding
Trailblazing educator and public servant who became the first African American woman elected to the Durham County Board of Commissioners, breaking barriers in local government and expanding Black women’s leadership in county-level decision-making.
Catherine Ferrell
Over her more than 113 years of life, recognized as the oldest known living person in North Carolina, she has been celebrated by local officials and the community for her resilience, history of service, and inspiring life story that spans major chapters of the 20th and 21st centuries.
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Pauli Murray
Raised in Durham; first Black person to earn a Doctor of the Science of Law from Yale and the first Black woman ordained as an Episcopal priest.
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Lyda Moore Merrick
A Black writer, editor, and activist from the Hayti community of Durham. Born Lyda Vivian Moore, she founded and edited The Merrick/Washington Magazine for the Blind, the first publication of its kind serving the needs of blind African Americans and circulated nationally. She also served as board chair of the Durham Colored Library, helped advocate for Black school needs, and sat on the Lincoln Hospital Board of Trustees—positions that made her a key cultural and civic leader in Durham’s Black community.
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Josephine Dobbs Clement
First Black woman to serve on and chair the Durham City Board of Education, later serving as a county commissioner.
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Dr. E. Lavonia Allison
First woman First Vice Chair of the Durham County Democratic Party and long-time chair of DCABP, shaping Black political power in Durham.
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Jeanne Lucas
Durham native and first African American woman elected to the North Carolina State Senate.
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Ann Atwater
Pioneering grassroots activist and among the first low-income Black women in Durham to directly influence public policy through school desegregation leadership.
MaryAnn Black
Durham County Commissioner and community leader who championed equity, access to services, and the voices of underserved residents.
Betty Doretha Massenburg
First African American woman principal in the Durham City School System, breaking barriers in public education leadership.
Mary Mitchell Harris
Mary Mitchell Harris, one of Duke University’s historic “First Five” Black undergraduate students, graduated from Duke in 1967 as one of the first African American undergraduates to earn a degree from the university; she is recognized as part of this pioneering cohort that helped integrate undergraduate education there.
Debra Saunders-White
The first Black woman to serve as permanent Chancellor of North Carolina Central University was Debra Saunders-White, who assumed the position on June 1, 2013, making university history as its first female chancellor in a permanent capacity
Donna Allen Harris
The first Black woman from Durham (and North Carolina broadly tied to Duke’s history) to graduate from the Duke University School of Nursing was Donna Allen Harris, who earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 1971. She was the first African American student to graduate from the school, breaking a racial barrier in Duke’s nursing program and helping pave the way for future students of color in the profession.
Loretta Lynch
The first Black woman to serve as Attorney General of the United States (2015–2017) under President Barack Obama. Before her historic appointment, she built a reputation for prosecuting public corruption, civil rights violations, terrorism cases, and financial crimes. As Attorney General, Lynch championed voting rights, police reform, and criminal justice reform, while overseeing significant national security and civil rights matters.6
Edith Hubbard
Among the first Black women to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, helping desegregate higher education and open doors for future generations of students.
