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Thereasea Clark Elder at a dedication ceremony for a health leadership academy name in her honor.
Thereasea Elder, the first Black public health nurse in Mecklenburg County, died Tuesday at the age of 93. And while a community mourns her passing, her decades-long dedication to service continues to inspire those who knew her.
Hannah Terrell, branch leader of Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library, still has an almost two-year-old voice message from Elder. Elder praised Terrell’s community work but also encouraged her to “pass on the torch.”
Terrell said being in Elder’s presence inspired her to continue her work documenting Black history and engaging with the community. And even though she met Elder in person only a handful of times, there was a lasting impact.
Honoring Thereasea Elder, Charlotte’s First Black Nurse
The community of Charlotte, North Carolina is paying tribute to Thereasea Elder, the city’s first black nurse, who passed away at the age of 93 on Tuesday. She forever changed the face of medicine when she fought to integrate the state’s segregated public health system.
Her story is a reminder of how far we have come in terms of making the healthcare system more equitable, but there’s still more work to be done.
Growing Up in Segregated North Carolina
Throughout her life, Elder was a fierce advocate for the black community. According to public records, she was born in the city’s historically black Greenville neighborhood, along with her five siblings, born to Booker T. and Odessa Clark.