Grace Rohrer
| Grace Jemison Rohrer-Huff | |
|---|---|
| North Carolina Secretary of Cultural Resources |
|
|
In office January 5, 1973 – January 10, 1977 |
|
| Governor | James Holshouser |
| Preceded by | Sam Ragan |
| Succeeded by | Sara W. Hodgkins |
| North Carolina Secretary of Administration | |
|
In office 1985–1987 |
|
| Governor | James G. Martin |
| Preceded by | Jane S. Patterson |
| Succeeded by | James S. Lofton |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Grace Jemison June 14, 1924 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | October 12, 2011 (aged 87) Boone, North Carolina |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Robert H. Rohrer (d. 1964) Don Huff |
Grace Rohrer (full name: Grace Jemison Rohrer-Huff; June 14, 1924 – October 12, 2011), was an American educator, arts and women's rights activist, and politician who served as the first woman to hold a state cabinet-level position in North Carolina when she was appointed Secretary of Cultural Resources by Governor James Holshouser from 1973–77. A Republican, she also served as Secretary of Administration under James G. Martin, 1985–87.
Rohrer was born Grace Jemison on June 14, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents were Howard A. Jemison and the former Caroline Elmore Bishop. Rohrer attended high school in Cranford, New Jersey, then graduated from Western Maryland College with a B.A. degree in 1946. She would return to school later in life after her first husband died and receive her M.A. from Wake Forest University in 1969.
Rohrer became an elementary school teacher after graduating from Western Maryland College. She excelled in arts promotion in Forsyth County, North Carolina, being a member of the Winston-Salem Symphony Guild. She also served as a singer and choir member for St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem as well as the Singers' Guild in Winston-Salem.
Rohrer became active in civic affairs while in Winston-Salem and in the 1960s started working with local Republican party committees. Rohrer ran for a seat on the Forsyth County School Board as a Republican, but lost. She moved up in party hierarchy over time, even getting her father involved: Howard Jemison served several terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives for Forsyth County.
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