The George Henry White Memorial Health and Education Center is proud to introduce three recent additions to our team: Carol Caldwell, Program Coordinator, and Brenda Kelly and Hilda Coleman, Docents, who are enabling us to have regular weekday hours in which the center is open for visits, classes, meetings and other events.
Carol John Caldwell is a native of Whiteville, NC, educated at Mt. Olive High School and Central High School in Whiteville and Whiteville Senior High School which she entered at the tender age of 13 under the Freedom of Choice Program. She did undergraduate and graduate studies at East Carolina University in Speech, Language and Auditory Pathology. She served Columbus County Schools as a Speech Pathologist and Diagnostic/Prescriptive Specialist, retiring in 2008.
She served as Executive Director of the Columbus County DREAM Center, Inc. beginning in 2009, working harder and longer hours than ever before, yet she had never experienced so much joy as in that job. Once again, she tried to retire, but was pulled out of her retirement by the George Henry White Center, where she serves as Program Coordinator.
A lifelong learner, Caldwell was so impressed by the history of the Center and of George Henry White, feeling cheated that she only recently learned of him and his rich legacy which she believes should be widely taught, to learners of all ages.
A lifetime member of St. Mark AME Zion Church in Whiteville, she has served as Director/Pianist for the Junior Choir, Sunday School teacher, Trustee, member of the Steward Board, Church Treasurer and Administrative Assistant for the church.
Caldwell serves on many boards and committees on both the local and state levels. It is in these capacities that she feels that she is able to become a voice and advocate for the voiceless. Although she has never married or had any biological children, she has been a mother to many, and has many warm and lasting relationships throughout the community. She enjoys singing, reading, gardening and playing Sudoku.
Hilda Boyd Coleman was born in Columbus County, attending Carver Moore Elementary School, and graduating Artesia High School in 1965. After marriage to Richard Coleman and the birth of two daughters, Suemai and Erica, Hilda continued her education at Southeastern Community College then Pembroke State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology, Magna Cum Laude in 1981. She also received a Certificate of completion in Basic Computer Skills from the George Henry White Center.
Hilda is passionate about community history, health and educational enrichment, family empowerment and problem solving. She worked for Columbus County Schools and later, Columbus County Department of Social Services as a Social Worker for 28 years, coordinating and implementing human service programs and supervised six social workers and one clerical assistant in the foster care department.
After her retirement in 2010, she continued to serve the people of the county in many ways, including as a Deaconess and choir member of the Sandy Plain Missionary Baptist Church, Clarkton, NC, and now by supporting the George Henry White Center.
Brenda Kelly is a native of Bladen County, North Carolina where she was educated, eventually attending Southeastern Community College, Bladen Community College, Wayne Community College and Fayetteville State University.
She worked for the Bladen County Schools for over 20 years as Teacher Assistant and Bus Driver, retiring in 2017. She was concurrently employed at the ABC Store in Elizabethtown, NC for 20 years and as a manager of the ABC Store in Brunswick, NC for three years.
And avid volunteer in the community Brenda has served/worked on the Bladen County Board of Elections and Bladen County Improvement Association. She is always seeking to find ways to make life better for her fellow man.
Kelly serves at the George Henry White Memorial Health and Education Center as a docent, extending hospitality and knowledge about the life and legacy of Mr. George Henry White, and supporting the classes, events and programs taking place there.
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