Charlotte Gardner: Educator and former member of the North Carolina House of Reps

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One-time teacher Charlotte Gardner also served in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Photo credit: Summersett Funeral Home

Many excellent educators have also served their community as politicians. One of these is Charlotte Gardner, a one-time high school teacher who also served in the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Charlotte was born on Nov. 14, 1931, in Baltimore, Maryland. As a young girl, her family moved to Rockwell, North Carolina. There Charlotte graduated from Rockwell High School in 1949. After her graduation, she enrolled at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and French, cum laude, in 1952.

Once she earned her degrees, Charlotte settled in Salisbury, where she lived with her husband. Early in her marriage, Charlotte accepted a position as a teacher in public schools located in both Robeson and Jones Counties. Over time, Charlotte and her husband raised six children.

In 1984, Charlotte was elected on the Republican ticket to the North Carolina House of Representatives, where she represented the 35th District for 16 years, from 1985 to 2001. While there, she served as a member on the Committees for Aging, Appropriations, Education, Financial Institutions, and Judiciary. She also served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Women’s Legislative Caucus from 1999 to 2000. But her greatest passion was working to improving conditions for the mentally ill.

For her work as a legislator, Charlotte garnered many pretigious awards. She earned the Distinguished Service Award from the Rowan County Republican Party; the Appreciation Award from the Rowan Mental Health Coalition; the Valand Award for Outstanding Legislator in the Cause of Mental Health from the North Carolina Mental Health Association; the 1995 Legislator of the Year from the North Carolina Alliance for the Mentally Ill; and the David T. Flaherty Merit Service Award.

Sadly, this teacher and chalkboard politician passed away in Annapolis, North Carolina, on June 10, 2020. She was 88 years old.