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20 <br /> 1 Bonnie B. Davis leadership strengths served as a foundation to facilitate racial <br /> 2 integration in the Orange County Extension office. Her positive attitude spread among <br /> 3 4-H youth, home demonstration club members (better known now as Extension & <br /> 4 Community Association), and Extension employees. <br /> 5 <br /> 6 Bonnie B. Davis drove to rural parts of the County to help youth practice demonstrations <br /> 7 for 4-H short courses. Ms. Davis believed that everyone, regardless of where they <br /> 8 started in life, could excel given the right opportunity, the necessary training and <br /> 9 resources. <br /> 10 <br /> 11 Bonnie B. Davis displayed her steadfastness when she returned from maternity leave in <br /> 12 1956. The new courthouse had opened with a kitchen for the use of white agents and <br /> 13 their clubs, but no facilities for the black agents and their clubs. Mrs. Davis resisted this <br /> 14 injustice and worked with the County Commissioners and others resulting in a new <br /> 15 addition at the corner of Court and King Streets for the use of agricultural extension. <br /> 16 <br /> 17 Bonnie B. Davis was a founding member of Friends of Department of Social Services <br /> 18 and the Women of Distinction Extension Club. She was an active member of the Mars <br /> 19 Hill Extension Club and other Extension Clubs and these clubs have served as the <br /> 20 community connection for the NC Cooperative Extension FCS program for years. <br /> 21 <br /> 22 • Bonnie B. Davis was the Chairperson for the Board of Social Services, was a founding <br /> 23 member of Orange Congregations in Mission, a member of the Regional Library Board <br /> 24 of Trustee, and was an active board member of the Orange County Literacy Council. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 • Bonnie B. Davis received many state and local awards and was a recipient of the <br /> 27 Orange County Pauli Murray award in 2000. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 • Bonnie B. Davis was a lifelong active member of Delta Sigma Theta and the Links Inc. <br /> 30 She was a devoted member of Mount Bright Baptist Church for over 70 years, serving as <br /> 31 a Deaconess, Co-Chair of the Kitchen Committee and the Christian Education Board. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 In memoriam and appreciation of Bonnie B. Davis, the proposal to rename the new Orange <br /> 34 County Environmental Agricultural Center (EAC) to the Orange County Bonnie B. Davis <br /> 35 Environmental and Agricultural Center is presented to the Board of Orange County <br /> 36 Commissioners for consideration. <br /> 37 <br /> 38 Ivelisse Colon, Family and Consumer Science Agent for NC Cooperative Extension in <br /> 39 Orange County, spoke in support of this renaming. She said Ms. Davis has a strong <br /> 40 commitment to serving the County, and improved the lives of many. She said Ms. Davis <br /> 41 reminds the County to serve with equity and excellence. She said Orange County is forward <br /> 42 thinking, and this renaming is one example of this. She said if this renaming occurs, it will be <br /> 43 the first Ag Center to be named after an African American woman. She said Orange County <br /> 44 would be an example to others in the state. <br /> 45 Dr. Fletcher Barber, Jr. thanked the Manager for her comments about Bonnie B. Davis. <br /> 46 He said he is the retired extension director, and worked with Ms. Davis. He said she was a <br /> 47 servant leader, and a legend within cooperative extension. He said one had to be on point <br /> 48 when working with a legend. He said she received all of the state and national awards one <br /> 49 could receive as an extension employee, and was especially proud of receiving the Pauli Murray <br /> 50 award. He said she stood for what was right, and did not wear a watch, because she did not <br />