21 Facts About Eva Clayton

Eva Clayton is an American politician from North Carolina.

On taking her seat in the United States House of Representatives following a special election in 1992, Clayton became the first African American to represent North Carolina in the House since George Henry White was elected to his second and last term in 1898.

In 2003, Eva Clayton was appointed Assistant Director-General of the United Nations's Food and Agriculture Organization, based in Rome.

Eva Clayton McPherson was born in Savannah, Georgia to Thomas McPherson, an insurance agent, and Josephine Martin, a teacher.

Eva and Theaoseus Clayton both pursued graduate degrees at North Carolina Central University following their marriage.

Eva Clayton graduated with a Master of Science degree from in Durham, North Carolina in 1962.

Eva Clayton attended law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 1968, civil rights activist Vernon Jordan, as part of his efforts to increase black political engagement, met with Theaoseus Eva Clayton to recruit a black candidate for public officer in eastern North Carolina.

Eva Clayton worked on the Soul City community development project in Warren County, North Carolina.

From 1982 to 1992, Eva Clayton served as an elected member and chair of the Warren County Board of Commissioners.

Eva Clayton gained national attention as president of her Democratic freshman class in Congress.

Eva Clayton served on the House Budget and Small Business Committees.

Eva Clayton was actively engaged in the legislative development of the Department of Agriculture's Operation policy.

Eva Clayton was a conferee on the 2002 Farm Bill and is recognized by national organizations, including the National Journal publications, for providing essential leadership by garnering support for nutritional programs and the civil rights and support for African American farmers in the final version of the Farm Bill.

Eva Clayton provided additional leadership by serving as the bipartisan co-chair of the Rural Caucus and as the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

In 2003, Eva Clayton was appointed Assistant Director-General and Special Adviser to the Director-General on World Food Summit Follow-up with the Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, Italy.

Eva Clayton served in that capacity for three years, in which she was responsible for encouraging the establishment of global alliances and partnerships to fight hunger and poverty in twenty-four different countries around the world, including the United States, Brazil, Ghana, and Jordan.

Eva Clayton remains a strong advocate for the hungry and the poor and she continuously promotes sustainable agriculture and equality in this country and around the world.

Eva Clayton is the recipient of eight honorary doctorate degrees and an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Eva Clayton is an Elder at Cotton Memorial Presbyterian Church in Henderson, North Carolina.

Eva Clayton serves on several boards that address hunger, agriculture and state policy issues, including the United States Alliance to End Hunger, the Global Food Banking Network, and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems.