Sallie Cook Booker
Many gifted educators also distinguish themselves in the field of politics. One individual that proves this to be true is Sallie Catherine Cook Booker, a public schoolteacher who became the third woman to be elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.
Sallie was born on a farm near Snow Creek, Franklin County, Virginia, on August 28, 1857. Her given name was Sarah, but all her life she was known as “Sallie.” Interestingly, she is a direct descendant of author Mark Twain.
Sallie began her career as a schoolteacher when she was only sixteen years old. Later, the young educator attended Piedmont Institute for Young Ladies in Franklin County to complete her preparation for teaching in public schools. Over the years, she also attended several summer normal institutes to improve her professional skills. In 1877, Sallie married Jesse Wootten Booker, a prominent businessman from Martinsville, Henry County, Virginia. Jesse was a Civil War veteran who fought on the Confederate side. Shortly after her marriage, Sallie resumed her teaching career in one-room country schools in Henry County. In all, Sallie dedicated 25 years to the profession.
Once Sallie retired from teaching, she became active in local politics, becoming a member of both the Fifth District Congressional Committee and the Democratic Executive Committee. In 1926, she decided to make a bid for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. She ran on the Democratic ticket. It was an election she won easily because she was unopposed. But when she ran for re-election in the 1928 special election, Sallie was challenged by Republican candidate R.L. Stone, who used the campaign slogan, “Membership in the General Assembly is a man’s job.” At one candidates’ debate appearance, Stone reportedly asserted, “You can’t elect Mrs. Booker again. Why? She’s an old woman.” To this she replied by removing her hat, standing, and declaring, “Your hair is a lot whiter than mine.” Sallie won the election.
During her term of office, Sallie served on the Committee on Schools and Colleges; the Committee on Counties, Cities, and Towns; the Committee on Retrenchment and Economy; and on the Library Committee. After two terms in office, Sallie decided to retire from politics in order to stay home and nurse her sick husband, who passed away in September, 1935.
Sallie died from natural causes on December 20, 1944, at the age of 87, and was buried in the family plot at Oakwood Cemetery in Martinsville. To learn more about this amazing educator and politician, see the Dictionary of Virginia Biography.
