Former local NAACP chief Dorothy Hardy dies
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on July 21, 2006 1:48 PM
Dorothy Whitted Hardy, a two-time president of the Wayne County chapter of the NAACP and an active member of many local community, civic and political organizations, died Thursday.
Mrs. Hardy worked as a teacher and guidance counselor for the Goldsboro City Schools for more than 40 years. She served as director of programs for exceptional children for the school system, influencing scores of the county's brightest students.
She served terms as president of the Wayne branch of Retired School Personnel and as president of the Mental Health Association and was appointed to the state Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services.
Mrs. Hardy was a member of the Wayne County Library Board, the county Services on Aging and served two terms on the county Board of Elections. She received the key to the city from late Mayor Hal Plonk in 1995.
Mrs. Hardy was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by former Gov. Jim Hunt.
A life-long member of First African Baptist Church, Mrs. Hardy served as secretary of the church's finance ministry and president of the Stitch and Chatter ministry.
Her funeral will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at First African Baptist Church.
Mrs. Hardy was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas W. Hardy. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Earl Whitted Sr.
Wayne County Board of Education Vice Chairman Shirley Sims said Mrs. Hardy's death is a great loss to Wayne County.
"I do know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Wayne County has lost a community leader, a friend, and educator and a very supportive person," Mrs. Sims said.