Across the generations, the story of this county has been shaped not only by its landmarks and turning points, but by the remarkable women whose quiet strength and bold leadership helped define its character. From educators and entrepreneurs to community builders, advocates, and cultural stewards, these women left legacies that continue to ripple through our towns and institutions. This article highlights some of the most influential women who helped make this county what it is today—honoring their achievements and ensuring their contributions are never forgotten.
The earliest known woman whose life left an indelible mark on Cleveland County was Elizabeth Love Wilson. She was the sister of James Love, who had donated land for the establishment of the county seat. She was the wife of Thomas Wilson. Together Thomas and Elizabeth Wilson were the proprietors of the Wilson Springs Hotel and mineral spring. Their hotel and property later became known as Cleveland Springs–a place so consequential to the economy of Cleveland County, the legislative act that authorized the establishment of the county seat stipulated that it should be no more than four miles from the springs.
Elizabeth, with help from daughter Sara and son-in-law James O. Poston, kept Wilson Springs going after the death of Thomas in 1861. Elizabeth was also the driving force behind the establishment of Elizabeth Baptist Church. The story is recounted that Elizabeth would bring her cow to graze upon the grassy land where the church now stands. In view was a liquor store and the knowledge of a still along Machine Branch just yards east. She and others declared “We need a church in this community!”
Elizabeth Love Wilson was a woman of great faith and fortitude. Elizabeth Baptist Church on North Post Road in Shelby is named for her.
After having served as an instructor at Peace Institute in Raleigh, Emeline Stedman McDonald joined the Shelby Female Academy in 1887. In 1889 she was elected its president. News item
Dr. Elizabeth Delia Dixon Carroll was the county’s first female physician and the second in all of North Carolina. She was the daughter of Thomas and Amanda McAfee Dixon.
Margaret Elizabeth “Bess” Gardner Hoey. The wife of Clyde R. Hoey, she was North Carolina’s first lady from 1937 to 1941. She was the sister of the previous governor, O. Max Gardner.
Fay Webb-Gardner. The wife of O. Max Gardner, she was North Carolina’s first lady from 1929 to 1933.
Bonnie Mauney Summers of Kings Mountain graduated from
Elizabeth College in Charlotte in 1915. After doing graduate work
at the University of North Carolina, she returned to Kings Mountain to teach school, becoming principal of the high school and later became the second female superintendent of Kings Mountain Schools.
(Miss Bryte Baker was the first female superintendent of Kings Mountain Schools; photo unavailable.)
Aside from church-based groups, the earliest women’s organizations focused on cultural development and eventually expanded into civic improvement and philanthropy.
One such literary group was organized in Shelby in 1894. Called the “Reading Circle,” membership in the club was by open invitation published in a Shelby newspaper. Twelve women responded to the invitation and met at the South Washington Street home of Mrs. Robert Ryburn. At that first meeting, club officers were elected: Mrs. W. P. McCorkle was named president; Mrs. Samuel Brice, secretary; and Mrs. L. M. Hall, treasurer. At the club’s March, 1894 meeting Mrs. McCorkle suggested the club name be changed to “Chicora,” the indigenous name for Carolina. Club members agreed and the Chicora Club would become the state’s oldest women’s club. The club is still in existence.
Women of the Greatest Generation, 1901-1927
Ezra Agnes Bridges. Miss Bridges was a Cleveland County educator and community leader. Her leadership left a legacy impacting the lives of a multitude of Cleveland County’s youth. Education
Ezra Bridges Scrapbook (1916-1980), (1942-1994), (1959-1993)
Edith Ledford Lutz was Cleveland County’s first female to serve in the NC General Assembly. A native of Lawndale, she served nine terms in the House of Representatives from 1977-1994.
Grace Rutledge Hamrick. Mrs. Hamrick was an accomplished journalist, biographer, and community leader.
Dorothy “Dot” Mulder Roark helped found and then served on the initial board of directors for Hospice of Cleveland County (now Wendover Hospice House), the Cleveland County Abuse Prevention Council, and Friends of the Library. She was a Korean War air force veteran and the wife of former Shelby mayor, Les Roark.
Evelyn Brown West was 60 years old in 1984, when she started Hospice of Cleveland County. She served as its administrator for 10 years until construction of the Wendover facility was completed.
Women of the Silent Generation, 1928-1945
Aileen Watson Ford was notably the first female to hold a governmental position in Cleveland County when she was elected to serve on the Shelby City Council in 1983. She was also the second African American to serve on the council, serving for 12 years, from 1983 to 1995.
Martha Ann Mason was a remarkable woman from Lattimore. After contracting polio, she lived in an iron lung for 61 years. Her amazing fortitude carried her through life to achieve her dream of attaining a college degree and becoming a writer. Biography
Beverly Shuford founded Personnel Services Unlimited in 1981, becoming the first staffing agency in Cleveland County. She served on many community boards and was the recipient of numerous service awards–including the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service.
Adelaide Austell Craver was
President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of First National Bank of Shelby. She graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill in 1967 and became the first Cleveland County female licensed as an attorney.
Athena Awards
The Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce has sponsored the Athena Award annually since 1985. This prestigious award celebrates individuals who excel in their profession, dedicate time to the community, and actively assist women in achieving their full leadership potential. Past honorees are below.
| 1985, Pat Ellison 1986, Beverly Shuford 1987, Kay Archer Price 1988, Marietta Gettys Floyd 1989, Jeri Horn |
| 1990, Adelaide Austell Craver 1991, Evelyn Brown West 1992, Anne Trammell Short 1993, Peggy Morgan Paksoy 1994, Dr. Kay Young 1995, Alma Watson 1996, Ruby Moss Alexander 1997, Sallie Craig 1998, Suzi Kennedy 1999, Sally Hunt Royster |
| 2000, Cindy Cook 2001, Henriette “Hank” Neal 2002, Linda McKnight 2003, Dr. Dottie McIntyre 2004, Dr. Linda Hopper 2005, Kitty Hamrick Hoyle 2006, Janet Berry 2007, Denese Stallings 2008, Kathryn Hamrick 2009, Helen Jeffords |
| 2010, Dotty Lanning Leatherwood spent 41 years of her career in health care management and administration, chairing such boards as Cleveland County Partnership for Children, United Way Personnel Committee, Abuse Prevention and Homeless Council, Personnel Committee of Hospice of Cleveland County, and the Alliance for Health. |  |
| 2011, Dr. Shannon Kennedy 2012, Brownie Plaster 2013, Gail McKillop 2014, Tropzie McCluney 2015, Dr. Collette Deviney 2016, Jeanette Sun |
| 2017, Mary Accor Mary was the first woman and African-American to serve as Chairman of the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners chair and spent more than 30 years in education. She was awarded the Long Leaf Pine Award for her service. |  |
| 2018, Margie Christopher 2019, Myra McGinnis 2020, awards canceled 2021, Dr. Katie Wilson Borders 2022, Audrey Whetten Godfrey 2023, Dr. Kendalyn Lutz-Craver |
Cleveland County Commission for Women
For decades, the Cleveland County Commission for Women has aimed to support and uplift community-minded females. Each year, the Commission selects a number of women from the slate of nominees for the “Distinguished Women Award.” Past honorees are listed below.
1992: N.C. Senator Helen Rhyne Marvin, Joyce Cashion, N.C. Rep Edith Lutz, Martha Lee Scruggs, Rosalynd Gilliatt, Grace Hamrick, Doris Borders, Patty Dorian, Aileen Ford, Ellen Powell, Dot Roark
1993: Chinetta Brooks, Arrie Ellis, Virginia Raymer
1994: Marietta Floyd, Jacqueline Lavender, Thelma McVae
1995: Nancy Abasiekong, Suzi Kennedy, Linda Thrift
1996: Anganette Homsley, Dr. Lonnie Proctor, Elizabeth Shipley
1997: Dr. Dottie McIntyre, Esther Plummer, Kay Archer Price, Betty Withrow
1998: Julia Banks, Adelaide Craver, Anne Short
1999: Barbara Brock, Erma Drum, Madge Wray
2000: Rosaline Hunt, Emily Ousley, Jackie Rountree
2001: Commissioner Mary Accor, Fay Webb Gardner, Katie Norris, Page Sherer
2002: Beverly Shuford, Kathleen Hamrick, Ezra Bridges
2003: Karla Haynes, Brenda Page, Betty Roberts
2004: LouVerne McCray, Jane Bryson Blake, Bess Gardner Hoey
2005: Betty Jean Mauney, Aloyse Jones, Annie Farley Dawkins
2006: Margie Christopher, Shirley Lail, Phyllis Sims
2007: Dr. Nellie Aspel, Lucille Evans, Mary Neisler
2008: Shirley Brutko, Daeira Roberts, Evelyn West
2009: Jo Powell Boggs, Lillie Hinton, Zita Roberts
2010: Sybil Dixon, Jeanne Patterson, Suzette Ross, Elizabeth “Lib” Stewart
2011: Lou Ballew, Helen Barrow, Elizabeth “Lib” Revels, Ruth Wilson
2012: Annie Mae Ross Beam, Dr. Collette Deviney, Patti Norman, Stella Putnam
2013: Dr. Laura Bingham, Jane Cooke, Mary Degree, Dr. Jane King
2014: Libbey Lavender, Dr. Linda Hopper, Betsy Wells
2015: Dr. Shannon Kennedy, Sharon Martin, Marguerite Mebane
2016: Gaye DeVoe, Shearra Miller, Macy Stinchcomb, Rev. Frances Webber
2017: Doris H. Dedmon, Ramona Gash, Kathryn Hamrick, Kathy Wilson
2018: Tropzie McCluney, Bess-Alice Phifer, Venita Roberts
2019: Susan K. Allen, Betty Gamble, Dr. B. J. Zamora
2020: No Banquet
2021 Carol Ann Hoard, Lisa Proctor, Terricia “Teresa” Wingo
2022: Amy Ledford Allen, Julia Clark Smith, Annie C. Thombs, Sandi Dee
2023: Brianna Meagan Delany, Tiffany W. Crank, Kendalyn Lutz-Craver
2024: Nautica Mason, Kerri Melton, and Lucretia Caroline Dedmon
Kay Hagan was born in Shelby in 1953. She served as a U. S. Senator from North Carolina from 2009 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the NC Senate from 1999 to 2009.
Cleveland County History 