Elna B. Spaulding, a woman of action, has deceased at 97 years of age, but not before building a history and legacy. Spaulding founded Women In Action, on Sept. 4, 1968, after attending a national conference on “What Women Can Do to End Violence in America.”

Spaulding brought together Durham, North Carolina’s black and white residents, many for the first time, to focus on basic needs and root causes of poverty and violence during an era of turbulence immediately following the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.

Born at the Tuskegee Institute, Spaulding had dedicated her life and herself to the betterment of her community for over 35 years. She helped to implement peaceful integration during the civil rights movement. Spaulding and the Women In Action, played a critical role in the black buying boycott of 1968. She also helped to smooth the way for the 1970 court-ordered desegregation of Durham’s public schools.

Spaulding helped the city of Durham in many ways, while leading Women-In-Action. She helped establish a clearinghouse in 1971, which provided direct financial assistance and referral services to low-income families and individuals in Durham. Today, the clearinghouse screens and serves about 40 churches, a number of community groups and other agency clients.

Spaulding was the founder for Women-in-Action, but she was also an ambassador for many different organizations over the last 10 years of her life. Spaulding served, as a representative and advocate for the Durham County Board of Commissioners, Lincoln Community Health Center, North Carolina Central University Museum of Art, National Council of Negro Women, Governor’s Citizens Committee on Schools, North Carolina School of the Arts, North Carolina Museum of Art, Child Advocacy of Durham and Durham Day Care Council while remaining an active member of White Rock Baptist Church, where she was a member for the past 50 years.

Mrs. Spaulding has also aided and directed several other organizations nationally and locally including: the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, the NAACP, and the Citizens Advisory Committee for Duke University Council on Aging and Human Development, Durham Democratic Women, YWCA of Durham board of directors and the Urban Ministries of Durham Inc.

Due to her service and civic involvement, Spaulding received numerous honors and awards for recognizing her commitment to the advancement in the field of human relations and public services. In 1988, she received the Durham County Women’s Commission’s Women’s Equality Award and the McCall’s Award for 20 years of outstanding public service to Durham County.

In 1989, Spaulding received the North Carolina Council on the Status of Women Distinguished Women of N.C. Award, and Durham’s “Keeper of the Dream” award. In 1992, Mrs. Spaulding was awarded, an honorary doctorate by Duke University. She was presented the North Carolina Award in 1997, by Gov. Jim Hunt, the highest award bestowed by the State. Spaulding received the Durham Merchants Association Mother of the Year Award, the George Washington Honor Medal of the Freedoms Foundation from the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge and, the Carlie B. Sessoms Award, the “Trailblazer Award” from the Hyati Cultural Center, and the William C Friday Award in Moral Leadership, from the Kenan Institute for Ethics, at Duke University in 2001. Spaulding has certainly made a great impact, on the society she has helped to severe over her life span. It is no surprise that Spaulding’s legacy will remain for the years to come.

MaryAnn Black stated the following about Spaulding, “For me, she was such a role model and mentor, and someone I truly grew to love, respect and admire. She lived a life that spoke of love, but she also worked very hard and allowed her work to speak for her. It’s certainly a great loss for the community.”

Elna B. Spaulding established an endowment solely for the funding of programs that support the improvement of human and race relations in Durham. Spaulding leaves behind an organization and a legacy that will continue to guide others that aspire to serve good and humanity.