Clayton, Eva M. (1934–)
Clayton, Eva M. (1934–)
African-American politician. Born Sept 16, 1934, in Savannah, Georgia; Johnson C. Smith University, BS, 1955; North Carolina Central University, MS, 1962; attended law school at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University in Durham; married an attorney; children: 4.
Joined Floyd McKissick in the administration of the Soul City project in Warren Co. (1970s); founded her own management and consulting firm, Technical Resources International, specializing in economic development (1981); served as chair of the Warren Co. Board of Commissioners (1982–90); as a Democrat, was elected to Congress to fill a vacancy (1992), the 1st woman to win a Congressional seat from North Carolina and one of the 1st two black members to do so since Reconstruction; was elected president of the Democratic freshman class, the 1st woman to hold that office; reelected for 4 more terms (Nov 1992–Jan 2003), was a member of the House Agriculture Committee and the House Committee on Small Business.