Biography of Margaret Taylor Harper

BIOGRAPHY FOR MARGARET TAYLOR HARPER

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CHURCH MUSIC

Started playing the piano for Sunday School and Prayer Meeting about 1931 when she was 13 or 14. Started playing for church about 1937 and became regular organist about 1947 until 1993.

SUNDAY SCHOOL, CHURCHTaught Sunday School classes from 1937 to 1981- first teens, then adults. Served in various capacities up to 1978 when she became chairman of Administrative Board from 1978-1982.

WOMAN'S WORKServed at various times as circle leader, was President of the Woman's Society of Christian Service in the early '50's.

Was President of Wilmington District WSCS 1956-1960.

Attended School of Missions through the '50's and taught 1958 or 1959, Was delegate to WSCS national meeting in St. Louis, 19____.

Delegate to School of Christian Missions at Southern Florida, 1967

Taught "Leadership" at School of Christian Missions, Methodist College, 1967

CONFERENCE

Member Methodist Board of College Visitors, 1960-1964.

Trustee, N.C. Wesleyan, 1968-1975.

Member Conference Commission on Status and Role of Women, 1974-1975 (Served on Bishop's Task Force which established the Commission).

Served on N.C. Conference Division of Higher Education which was part of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry.

Was Chairman of Committee on Academic Life 1977-1980.

Was member of Commission on Financial and Plant Operations of above Division of Higher Education.

Delegate to Annual Conference 1982 and 1989.

　

METHODIST RETIREMENT HOMES, INC.

Member Local Committee, Wesley Pines until 1986.

Was on Long Range Committee which chose site of Wesley Pines.

Trustee: Methodist Retirement Homes, Inc. 1970-1978, and again 1981 to 1989.

Was Chairman of Special Gifts Committee 1981-1984,

Vice-Chairman Long Range Planning, 1983-1985,

Vice-Chairman Development, 1984-1985,

Vice-President, 1986-1987,

President 1987-1989.

Organized "Friends of the Methodist Retirement Communities" 1989

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Mrs. Margaret Harper, Southport, North Carolina

PERSONAL

Born in 1917, Southport, North Carolina, daughter of C. Ed Taylor, Attorney and Jessie Stevens Taylor

Married in 1937 to the late James M. Harper, Jr., publisher of "The State Port Pilot" (and was president of NCPA 1964-1965)

Two sons: James M. Harper, III, writer/photographer; Ed Taylor Harper, Editor, "The State Port Pilot"

Grandchildren: Grandson James M. Harper, IV; three granddaughters: Margaret Harper Tuttle, Julianne Harper Hollingworth and Morgan Stevens Harper.

EDUCATION

Graduated Southport High School, 1933

Graduated Greensboro College, 1937

BUSINESS

Owner and Manager of former The Stevens Insurance Agency

Secretary-treasurer, North Carolina Press Association, 1969-1978

Editor, "The State Port Pilot", weekly newspaper while husband was in Navy during World War II

POSITIONS

Trustee, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1973-1981

Trustee, North Carolina Blue Cross and Blue Shield, 1974-1987

Executive Committee

Member, Board of Governors, Research Triangle Institute,

1974 to present, Executive Committee

Director, Carolina Power and Light Company, 1975-1988

Trustee, Arts and Sciences Foundation, UNC-Chapel Hill, 1976-

President, N.C. Federation of Women's Clubs, 1962-64

President, N.C. Council of Woman's Organizations, 1965-67

President, N.C. Press Women, 1944-45

Member, N.C. American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, 1967-1973

Incorporator & Director, North Carolinians for Better Libraries

Member, N.C. Tercentenary Commission

Chairman, Brunswick County Library Board, 1960-71, presently a member

to 1983

Chairman, Brunswick Town Project, N.C. Garden Clubs, 1963-69

Member, Advisory Board of N.C. Zoological Authority

Member, Governor's Committee on Reorganization of State Government,

1970

President, N.C. Literary and Historical Association, 1974-75

Listed: Who's Who of American Women

President, Southport Woman's Club- 6 different terms

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

Methodist

Organist

Chairman, Administrative Board, Trinity United Methodist Church,

1978-1982, now Church Trustee

President, Wilmington District WSCS, 1956-1960

Member, Methodist Board of College Visitors,

N.C. Conference 1960-1964

Trustee, N.C. Wesleyan, 1968-1975

Trustee, Methodist Retirement Homes,

N.C. Conference, 1970-1978; 1981- Vice President 1986-1987;

President 1987

Former Member, Division of Higher Education, N.C. Conference

　POLITICAL

Vice-Chairman, N.C. Democratic Executive Committee, 1968-1972

President, Democratic Women of North Carolina, 1968-1972

Member, Democratic Study Commission, 1969-1970

Ran for Lt. Governor in 1968 and 1972; Lost both times in primaries

HONORS

Honorary Doctor of Laws, Greensboro College, 1981

Honorary Member, N.C. Press Association, 1979

Chi Omega, Distinguished Service Award for Women, 1979

Women in Communications, Outstanding Communicator of the Year, 1978

Delta Kappa Gamma, Honorary Member, 1972

Greensboro College, Distinguished Alumna Award, 1966

N & O's "Tar Heel of the Week", fall of 1962

May Queen, Greensboro College, 1937

Honorary Member, N.C. Federation of Women's Clubs

N.C. Journalism Hall of Fame, 1987

UNC-CHAPEL HILL-Honorary Doctor of Laws- 1987

Woman of Distinction- NCCWO-1987

Served 3 years (1976-1978) on selective committee in Southeastern Region

(7states) in Rhodes Scholarship Competition

William R. Davie Award-1990