Barbara McRae: The Passing of a Mentor and Friend

I recently learned that one of my friends, Ms. Barbara McRae, passed away in Franklin. It is difficult to express how much of an impact she had on me and my research.

I met her almost eight years ago, on my second trip to Franklin. I think I had reached out to her in an email. I was a student at UNC Chapel Hill, just having received a summer research fellowship to explore my interest in the history of the town and my people. I had read several of her columns in The Franklin Press, the local newspaper, as I conducted my own family history research. I was captivated by the fact that she had interviewed—actually interviewed – my 2x great grandmother in the 1970s and 1980s. More than that, she had written several pieces in the Macon County Heritage books (1987, 1998) and knew a bunch about the old families of Franklin. She was a household name there. “That Barbara McRae,” always working on some project relating to Franklin’s history.

In all of my young adult awkwardness, I was afraid that she’d find the request strange. Here I was, a college student, randomly asking to interview her about one of many families she had written about. Maybe she wouldn’t think I was worth her time. Maybe she’d think I was selfish.

But she didn’t. She accepted without hesitation and warmly invited me into her home to learn more about her work, my ancestors, and the town she called home. She was patient with my nascent interviewing skills and made me feel comfortable. We had a wonderful conversation, full of knowledge and laughter.

In the years that followed, we continued to correspond with each other. Each time I had a research question or needed help on a lead (sometimes, frankly just out of the blue), she would graciously respond with such care and detail, connecting me with someone or even emailing me some of her old newspaper articles. When I reached out to inquire about Alden, she marched to the local police department and asked for their help in re-visiting the nearly 80 year old case.

This past fall, we had connected to discuss the preservation of Ray’s Chapel AME Zion, a historic church that many of Franklin’s Black families had attended. In fact, several of my ancestors either attended or were trustees. There wasn’t much I could do from out of state, but I felt like we fed off of each other’s enthusiasm and energy. She took my opinions seriously as we brainstormed ways to try to make it happen. Several times, she even told me I should become a lawyer. Me, a lawyer!

I had hoped to visit with her again soon after the pandemic.

After reading through her obituary online, I was in awe of everything she accomplished. She was a community organizer, vice mayor, journalist, historian, prolific writer, and so much to so many. Barbara was a transplant to Franklin, but you would never know it from her work. Her energy and dedication to public service was unparalleled. Even up until her passing, she was also working on the Women’s History Trail and the Women’s History Trail Sculpture Project, projects that would commemorate the accomplishments of women in Franklin.

The passion and enthusiasm she had for this tiny town’s history is something that I will always carry with me. I will be forever grateful to her for her compassion, encouragement, and guidance as a friend, mentor, and fellow researcher. I hope that I make her proud and can make half of the impact that she has had on the community my ancestors called home.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Women’s History Trail and Sculpture projects, visit the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County, North Carolina website. Read more about Barbara’s inspiration for the projects here.

The Folk Heritage Association is still accepting donations for the Women’s History Trail projects. If you’d like to contribute, you can donate via PayPal or mail.