CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bertha Maxwell-Roddey was revered by people who knew her as a groundbreaking leader and educator in the Charlotte community. Some of her earliest achievements include becoming the first Black woman principal at a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools elementary school during segregation and the second Black professor at UNC Charlotte in 1970.
Later, she co-founded the Harvey B. Gantt Center in Uptown Charlotte, and became a champion for African American arts and culture.
Thoughtful posts in response to her passing have been pouring in on social media – including from the Gantt Center and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, where she served as its 20th president.
Mecklenburg County Commissioner-at large Arthur Griffin was in her classroom all those years ago and said her influence won’t be forgotten.
"She used to always walk around telling us that African American history is either lost, stolen or strayed and she wanted to change that narrative," Griffin said.
A celebration of life service for Maxwell-Roddey was streamed on YouTube at 12 p.m.
Contact Destiny Richards at drichards5@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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