Warren Fleming never forgot his roots.
A Cooleemee native, he was a member of the last graduating class from the all-black North Cooleemee Elementary School in 1966 prior to desegregation in Davie County Schools.
Now owner of a security firm in the Washington, D.C. area, Fleming rallied the community, classmates, local and state leaders behind his cause – erecting a plaque at the site of the school – called a Rosenwald School because of the funding.
“This was a proud and historic day in Davie County and the community,” Fleming said of the Sept. 22 plaque unveiling ceremony. “The community of North Cooleemee is encouraging everyone from the county to visit this historic site in North Cooleemee on Hickory Street.
“This plaque not only provides insights to the history of segregation in the black community, but it shares the struggles of the US Department of Education and reminds us that proper funding should be provided by both the federal and state for the education and well being of all children in Davie County.”
Several officials, as well as members of the community and those who attended the school, spoke during the unveiling ceremony.
Zettie Chunn Phillips, who was among the first students to accept the volunteer request to attend Cooleemee Elementary during pre-desegregation, presented an award to Dr. Darrin Hartness …