Pauline C. Morton

Civic minded Pauline Cauthone Morton was born Pauline Cauthone on February 19, 1912, in Dunnsville, Virginia. Morton attended Ozena Public School, Dunnsville Public School, and the Baptist Association’s Rappahannock Industrial Academy. She completed high school in 1928 and graduated from Virginia State University in 1933 with her B.S degree.

Morton married Samuel Percell Morton, then principal of the Hayden High School in Franklin, Southampton County, Virginia, and taught home economics. She eventually became the area state supervisor for home economics as well as an officer in the Statewide Home Economics Association. Well known for her work in the Franklin community as well as in state and local politics, she served as chairman of the school board, community college board, and several other state and local boards and governor’s committees. She held lifetime memberships in Alpha Kappa Alpha, Links, Inc., the Order of the Eastern Star, the National Council of Negro Women, and the local NAACP Chapter that she helped to form. She served on the J.R. Thomas Camp Board of Trustees for over fifty years, and on the Board of Directors of Senior Services for Southeastern Virginia from 1972 to 2002. During her long career, Morton helped to form the Franklin Cooperative Ministry, The Cosmonettes, and Sesame Street Day Care. She also served as chairman of the Deacon Board of her church and twenty-three other organizations. A scholarship has been established in her name at Virginia State University.

The recipient of many proud honors, Morton passed away on February 7, 2004, survived by two daughters.