Strength, Resolve and Legacy

Celebrating African-American Women at Wake Forest

By Wake Forest University

February 6^th, 2020

The 50th Anniversary Celebration

Wake Forest held a gala celebration honoring the four African-American women residential students and one day student, who entered in the 1969-1970 school year. The five honorees -- Camille Russell Love ('73), Beth Norbrey Hopkins ('73), Linda Holiday, Deborah Graves McFarlane ('73), and Awilda Gilliam Neal ('73) -- pose on stage in the photo above.

At the Gala, the honorees met old friends and classmates and listened as current students and administrators spoke of their courage to take on the challenges inherent in being the first African American women to come to Wake Forest as resident students.

Talking About a Revolution

On Saturday morning, the women were joined by Donna Boswell ('72, MA '74) to talk about their experiences at Wake Forest in a panel discussion in Brendle Recital Hall. Below, from left, Boswell moderates a discussion between McFarlane, Holiday, Hopkins, Neal and Love.

Generations Apart, Honored Together

Three of the women were joined by four current students for a discussion on African-American life at Wake Forest in the present day. Below, from left, are: McFarlane, Love and Hopkins, moderator Kelly Starnes ('93, MBA '14), and current students Neicy Myers ('20), Bria Johnson ('20), Taylor Fowlks ('20) and Leilani Fletcher ('22).

AWFUBA Reception in Angelou Hall

The Association of Wake Forest University Black Alumni held a reception for the four women in Maya Angelou Residence Hall after the luncheon on Saturday.