Shirley T. Frye

Civic leader Shirley T. Frye was born on October 12, 1931 in Fremont, North Carolina to Edlenzie Taylor Sr. and Mattie Taylor. Frye received her B.S. degree in elementary education and English from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) State University in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1953 and her M.S. degree in special education and psychology from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York in 1958.

Frye began her career teaching both second grade and gifted children in the Greensboro Public Schools. Then, in 1955, she worked during summers as a visiting professor at her alma mater, North Carolina A&T State University for more than twenty years, until 1976. This is the same year that she joined the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as a directional specialist for mentally and physically challenged students after leaving the public schools in 1967 to join Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina as a coordinator and professor of special education. Frye became a full-time employee at North Carolina A&T State University in 1977, working as assistant vice-chancellor of development and university relations and assistant director of the university foundation. Between 1987 and 1988, she co-managed Robert B. Jordan’s Democratic campaign for governor of North Carolina. Frye returned to Bennett College as special assistant to the president and director of planned giving in 1989. Three years later, Frye was employed by WFMY News-2 Television as a community affairs manager. She was promoted to vice president of community relations in 1994 and remained in this role until 2003. In 2006, Frye returned to North Carolina A&T State University as a special assistant to the chancellor.

Frye also was active in the community serving on the boards of numerous organizations including the Joseph McKinley Foundation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the Greater Greensboro United Way, North Carolina A&T State University, Housing Opportunities of North Carolina, the Greensboro YWCA, and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce.

During her career, she also received numerous awards and honors including the Nathaniel Greene Award for Community Service from the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce in 1972, the Woman of the Year Award from the National Council of Negro Women in 1986, the Living Legend Award from the YWCA in 2003, an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Bennett College in 2005, the North Carolina Award from the State of North Carolina in 2008, the Greensboro Partnership’s Distinguished Citizen Award in 2009, and the North Carolina A&T State University Alumni Achievement Award in 2013. In 2015, the Greensboro YWCA unanimously voted to change their facility’s name to the Shirley T. Frye building.

Frye lives with her husband, the Honorable Henry E. Frye, in Greensboro, North Carolina. They have two children, Henry and Harlan.

Shirley T. Frye was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on April 17, 2023.