A Lasting Legacy

Retired educator BERTHA BOYKIN TODD received the Wilmington Rotary Club’s first-ever Legacy Award this year.

“This honor was created to recognize people who have made major contributions, over many years, to improving the quality of life in Wilmington and New Hanover County,” rotary officials say about the award.

A long-time civil rights advocate and former educator, Todd played a central role in the desegregation of Wilmington’s schools. She also helped lead the efforts to bring the 1898 Massacre and Coup into the light in recent decades.

The club presented the award May 1 at its third annual Leaders in Service banquet. The others honored this year were Wilmington Health Access for Teens founder CONNIE PARKER (nonprofit sector); Arris Partners managing partner BRIAN MCMERTY (private sector), and UNCW College of Health and Human Services founding dean CHARLES HARDY (public sector).

To view more of photographer Madeline Gray’s work, go to madelinegrayphoto.com.

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