CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — The former superintendent of Clarendon County School District One and Two has passed away, leaving many people in the Midlands reflecting on her impact.
“It just was a shock to hear that Dr. Wilder passed away," said Clarendon NAACP president Willie Briggs.
According to the State Department of Education, Dr. Rose H. Wilder became the first Black female superintendent in the state of South Carolina since Reconstruction in 1994.
Briggs described Wilder as an advocate for the youth of Clarendon County. He says she played a role in building an early childhood development center in Summerton and has also helped the district receive grant funding for its schools.
The magnitude of her impact was so great that an elementary school is now named in her honor.
“This is the first time we did something on this level while that person still lived," Briggs said. "So, I’m so happy to be a part of this community that they worked so hard to name this school after Dr. Wilder for the excellent job that she did before she left."
Her impact is felt from Clarendon County to Williamsburg, where she served as superintendent since 2018.
Jalyric Burrows reflects on her experience as a former student of hers at Hemingway High School.
“She had a very positive energy and she just made everything better. She made everyone feel loved. She cared for everyone. With her everything was just better," said Burrows.
In a statement, the Clarendon County School District says in part," Dr. Wilder dedicated her life to public service and will be remembered for her profound impact on educators and her educational leadership not just in Clarendon County Schools and the Clarendon Communities but everywhere.”