Eva Clayton, born on September 16, 1934, in Savannah, Georgia, is a pioneering American politician who made history as the first African American to represent North Carolina in the United States House of Representatives since George Henry White in 1898.
Clayton graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1955. In 1956, she married Theaoseus Clayton, also a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University. The couple pursued further education together, with Eva earning a Master of Science degree from North Carolina Central University in 1962.
After completing their graduate studies, the Claytons moved to Warrenton, North Carolina, where Theaoseus Clayton became a lawyer. Eva attended law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she further honed her knowledge and skills. Their work in the legal field and their dedication to civil rights would be a significant influence on Eva’s later political career.
Eva Clayton’s political journey was influenced by the civil rights movement, which profoundly impacted her views on racial inequality and social justice. In 1968, civil rights leader Vernon Jordan recruited Clayton to run for public office as part of a broader push to increase Black political engagement in North Carolina…