Who's Who in Virginia's Long Term Care Facilities
Mrs. Gladys P. Todd
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Mrs. Gladys P. Todd, 96 years old, has been an effective
behind-the-scenes leader in the struggle for civil rights. She
coordinated the sit-ins and boycotts in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This
was no easy task in 1960, because there were very few phones, no public
transportation, and few people owned cars. Because of the organizational
skills of Mrs. Todd, the lunch counter and picket lines stayed occupied.
Stores and movie theaters were forced to desegregate within a year.
Later, when the first blacks ran for city council, Mrs. Todd again used her organizational skills. She helped to register new voters, designated block captains to educate voters and potential voters in each neighborhood, arranged transportation to the polls, reported poll activity and thereby changed the complexion of the council.
NOTE: She has written a paragraph about civil rights which is inscribed on a marker at the corner of William and Caroline Streets in Fredericksburg.
Mrs. Gladys P. Todd is a resident at Carriage Hill Health & Rehab in Fredericksburg where she has resided since April 2009.
