Happy Birthday to Our Golden Aggies Celebrating 95 and 100 Years of Life!
On behalf of the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Alumni Association, Inc., we would like to wish Mrs. Julia S. Brooks a Happy 95th Birthday, and Mrs. Sallie Pendergraft a Happy 100th Birthday.
Mrs. Julia S. Brooks is well-known for her service and commitment in the North Carolina A&T State University Alumni Association, Inc. and becoming the first female national president in 1969. She was born in Pender County, North Carolina on November 15, 1918, and she is the 12th of 14 children born to Henry and Rena Shiver. She obtained her bachelor’s degree of science from North Carolina A&T State University in 1944 and her master’s degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. After she retired from being a kindergarten teacher, she went on to give back to the community. Like her father, she would loan money to students at North Carolina A&T to help them along in their college journey. Those students would eventually go on to become doctors, politicians, and attorneys. In 1950, she later became an active member of the Alumni Association and her outstanding work has not gone unnoticed. Every year in her honor, the Alumni Association awards the Julia S. Brooks Achievement Award to an alumnus who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in his/her profession, community or public service.
Mrs. Sallie Pendergraft was born in a small town in South Carolina on November 18, 1918. She moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina when she was five and has been a resident for more than 90 years. During her time at North Carolina A&T, she was an English and education major. After receiving her degree in 1946, she went on to become an elementary school teacher in Wilson, N.C. In 1969, she began working for Holmes Day Care. The daycare was made in an effort to support African American families during segregation. She retired as the director of the daycare in 1993 at the age of 77. Now in retirement, she enjoys crossword puzzles, reading the Bible and traveling with her grandchildren.
Both of these outstanding women have paved the way for many Aggies to come. The Alumni Association hopes these two will have an amazing birthday.
Aggie Pride
