Barbara Roseboro Myers: Strong family role models provided support, direction
Myers
Editor’s note: March is Women’s History Month. For the next four weeks, The Paper will profile an instrumental female community leader. This is the first in the series.
Barbara Roseboro Myers is the immediate past president of the Burke County Branch of the NAACP, having stepped into the position around 2002 after the administration of President Diann Tate.
Barbara grew up on East Union Street and matriculated through Morganton and Burke County Public Schools, attending Mountain View Elementary and Morganton Junior High. She also attended Olive Hill High School for a short time, where she gained wisdom and developed lifelong relationships. After public school desegregation she graduated from Morganton High School.
Barbara had many strong family role models early in life. She credits her mother, Mrs. Lutisha Avery Roseboro, with giving her love, support, and encouragement, and showing her that she can do anything with God’s help. Her grandmother, Mrs. Mattie Edna Corpening Avery, showed her the power of faith in God, and her sister Mary L. Roseboro demonstrated perseverance and believing in oneself. Mary encouraged Barbara to pursue higher education and teach others, and during her college years, Mrs. Ruby Avery and her daughter Mildred Avery Tanner deeply supported Barbara.
Her higher education began with two years at Western Piedmont Community College followed by two years at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Anthropology. Her most memorable early leadership experience came as a student at UNC-Charlotte, where she worked with 13 young Black women in 1972 to organize and charter the Iota Rho Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and served as its first Corresponding Secretary.
Barbara then pursued graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, completing her Masters of Social Work. After becoming Director of Social Work at Broughton Hospital, she retired with 47.5 years of service and received the Governor’s prestigious Long Leaf Pine Award.
Barbara had joined the Burke County NAACP back in the late 1970s, serving first as a member, then as a committee chair, and ultimately as president. In addition to her roles with the local organization, she has served at the state level as District Director and currently as Assistant Secretary.
Barbara’s’ three objectives as president were:
- To connect with the State Conference and gain insight into how the Burke County Chapter could grow.
- To reconnect with the local community for involvement and engagement and to develop partnerships.
- To address pressing issues in the community through education, mobilization, outreach, dialogue, and training.
During her presidency, the NAACP experienced increased organizational visibility and connection through partnerships, outreach, mediation, and open dialogue, as well as growth in adult and youth membership.
Reflecting on her experience, Barbara says, “We can see change when we, as a community, make a concerted effort to work together, even with our differences, toward a common purpose. ... We must all be willing to trust, to take a risk ... to be present and accountable.”
Dr. Leslie McKesson is a freelance content contributor.
