Everett, Sallie Baker

By William R. Pittman, 1986

26 Feb. 1888–29 Apr. 1975

Sallie Baker Everett, farm and political leader, was born in the Halifax County town of Palmyra to LaFayette John and Pattie Norman Spruill Baker. Following education at Halifax County public schools, she attended Louisburg College from 1900 to 1904 and Meredith College from 1905 to 1909. On 25 Feb. 1914, she married Benjamin Bryan Everett, a four-term representative in the North Carolina General Assembly, member of the North Carolina Prison Board, trustee of State College and of the consolidated University of North Carolina, and president of the North Carolina Crop Improvement Association. It was not until she had raised and educated her five children (three daughters and two sons) that Mrs. Everett decided to become active in political, farming, and women's organizations in addition to being a partner with her husband in extensive farming and merchandising in the area.

The Democratic party was a main beneficiary of her efforts. Nationally, she served on the executive committee of the Democratic National Committee from 1950 through 1960; for much of that time she also was a member of the advisory council. In addition, she represented North Carolina as a national committeewoman from 1952 through 1960. For the North Carolina Democratic Executive Committee she served as vice-chairman for seven years (1942–48, 1950). In 1952, she was chairman of the women's campaign for Governor William B. Umstead.

Farm concerns were another major part of her service to the state. From 1942 through 1952 she was chairman of the women's division of the North Carolina Farm Bureau and while serving in this capacity lobbied extensively on behalf of state and national legislation to improve rural education, libraries, consumer education, health, and hospitals. She also was a director of the Agricultural Foundation of North Carolina State College and of the North Carolina Farm Bureau. In recognition of her efforts on behalf of farming interests, she was named the Progressive Farmer magazine's Woman of the Year (1946) and received the North Carolina Farm Bureau's Distinguished Service Award (1947).

Active in other state and local groups, Mrs. Everett was a member of the North Carolina Federation of Women's Clubs, serving as both president of her local club and chairman of various committees for the state club. She belonged to the North Carolina State Art Society, the Roanoke Island Historical Association, the State Literary and Historical Association, and the state United War Fund.

A dedicated churchwoman, she was a lifelong Episcopalian and was buried in the cemetery of Trinity Church, Scotland Neck.