Bertha Merrill "B" Holt(August 16, 1916 – June 18, 2010) was an American politician who representedAlamanceandRockinghamcounties in theNorth Carolina State House of Representativesfrom 1975 to 1993, where she championedNorth Carolina's failed attempt to ratify theEqual Rights Amendmentand led the successful effort to remove the exemption of husbands from the state'srape laws.In addition, she was active in theEpiscopal Churchand was a founding member of the Alamance Women's Political Caucus and the Woman's Resource Center.
Bertha "B" Holt | |
|---|---|
| Member of theNorth Carolina House of Representatives from the 29th district | |
| In office 1975–1994 | |
| Preceded by | John D. Long |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 16, 1916 Eufaula, Alabama |
| Died | June 18, 2010(aged 93) Burlington, NC |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Clary Holt |
| Alma mater | Agnes Scott,University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill,University of Alabama |
Early life
editHolt was born inEufaula, Alabama,and was the oldest of her five sisters. She came from a long family line of lawyers: her great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all practicing attorneys.[1]
In 1938 she received her bachelor's degree in psychology fromAgnes Scott Collegein Georgia and then became one of the first women to attend law school at theUniversity of North Carolinabefore transferring to finish her law degree at theUniversity of Alabamain 1941.[2]
From Alabama Holt moved toWashington, D.C.,where she worked for theTreasuryand theDepartment of the Interior.[3]She reconnected with Clary Holt whom she had met atUniversity of North Carolinaand would later marry. AfterWorld War IIBertha and Clary Holt moved toBurlington, North Carolina,and raised three children, a daughter, Harriet, and two sons, Merrill andJefferson Holt.
She was the first woman to serve on herEpiscopal Churchvestry, later serving as its senior warden and as a member of North Carolina's Diocesan Council. She was the first woman to serve on the Bishop's Committee of the Episcopal Church in North Carolina.
In 1975, Holt was appointed to theNorth Carolina House of Representativesand became the first woman to ever represent her district of Alamance and Rockingham counties. Voters returned her to office for eight consecutive terms - a total of 19 years. She established a distinguished record of public service. She was a founding member of the Alamance Women's Political Caucus in 1988 and of the Women's Resource Center in Alamance County in 1989. In 1995, she was a member of the delegation to the FourthUnited Nations Conference on Womenin Beijing.[citation needed]
Political career
editHolt was appointed by GovernorJames Holshouserto fill a seat vacated by John D. Long on August 18, 1975.[4]North Carolinawas embroiled in a heated debate over theEqual Rights Amendmentand Holt quickly emerged as a steadfast proponent. Ultimately it was defeated.
During her career Holt sponsored many notable bills in the legislature including clarifying a judge's decision to decide what will become of firearms involved in crimes,[5]insuring women cannot be charged withindecent exposureforbreastfeeding,and solidifying the right of government employees to participate in political movements[6]
A cornerstone of her political career was the removal of a husband's exemption from North Carolina rape laws. Previous to 1993 the law stated that "a person may not be prosecuted under this article if the victim is the person's legal spouse at the time of the commission of the alleged rape or sexual assault"[7]The language of the statute was changed to specifically bar marital status as a defense in this crime. After she left the House of Representatives Holt later lamented "I worked on legislation about domestic violence and they're still working on it today. We haven't come far enough."[8]
After her deathNorth Carolina State HouseSpeakerJoe Hackneysaid "[d]uring her nearly 20 years in the North Carolina House of Representatives, she proved to be a dedicated and highly competent lawmaker and a pioneering female lawyer who mentored many of the women who followed her into the legislature."[9]
Religion
editHolt remained active in theEpiscopal Churchthroughout her life. She became the first woman to serve on her local vestry, served as a member of North Carolina's Diocesan Council, and served on the Bishop's Committee of the Episcopal Church of North Carolina.[10]During her funeralBishop Michael Currygave an impassioned homily, lauding her efforts to support people who have begun at a disadvantage both in the Episcopal Church and in politics even remarking "I stand here because of that woman and good people like her."[11]
Awards
editIn 1996 Holt was acknowledged as a Distinguished Alumnus by the University of North Carolina General Alumni Association.[12]In 2007, Holt received an honorary Doctor of Laws fromAgnes Scott College.[citation needed]She was honored by theACLUwith theFrank Porter GrahamAward in 2009.[13]
References
edit- ^Bertha M. Holt, pioneer legislator. "News & Observer, The (Raleigh, NC) 19 June 2010: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Retrieved: 2010-08-03
- ^Wilder, Mike. "Former lawmaker suffers stroke." Times-News (Burlington, NC) 16 June 2010: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Retrieved: 2010-08-03
- ^"Bertha M." B "Holt Obituary (2010) the News & Observer".www.legacy.com.Retrieved2010-08-03.
- ^"Women in the North Carolina General Assembly 1921 - 2009"(PDF).www.ncga.state.nc.us.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2010-11-24.Retrieved2010-08-03.
- ^"Confiscate and Forfeit Guns".ncleg.net.Archived fromthe originalon 2010-11-24.Retrieved2010-08-03.
- ^"An Act to Define the Limits of Local Government Employee Political Activities".ncleg.net.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-13.Retrieved2010-08-03.
- ^"Spousal Rape Laws: 20 Years Later".National Center for Victims of Crime.Archived fromthe originalon 2010-06-20.Retrieved2010-08-04.
- ^Quoted in Mayo, Nikie. "Longtime leader touts a 'new day'." Sun Journal (New Bern, NC) 23 June 2008: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Retrieved 2010-08-03
- ^"Bertha M. Holt, pioneer legislator." News & Observer, The (Raleigh, NC) 19 June 2010: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Retrieved: 2010-08-03
- ^"Bertha M." B "Holt Obituary (2010) the News & Observer".Legacy.com.
- ^Wilder, Mike. "Trailblazing lawmaker laid to rest." Times-News (Burlington, NC) 22 June 2010: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Retrieved: 2010-08-03
- ^"Awards | UNC General Alumni Association".Archived fromthe originalon 2010-06-09.
- ^"ACLU-NC Legal Foundation Hosts 40th Annual Frank Porter Graham Awards Ceremony on February 7th at Bay 7 in Durham"(PDF).Liberty.42(1): 1. Winter 2009.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2016-04-08.Retrieved2010-08-04.