Manderline Scales, a long-time educator and former administrator at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina, died late last month at the home of her daughter. She was 91 years old and had suffered from cancer.
Dr. Scales was an alumna of Spelman College in Atlanta, where she was a classmate of Christina King Farris, the sister of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr Scales continued her education by earning a master’s degree at the University of Pittsburgh and a doctorate at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
In 1949, Dr. Scales began her career as a teacher at the racially segregated Atkins High School in Winston-Salem. In 1966, she was one of four African American teachers to integrate the faculty at Parkland High School in the city.
After 20 years of teaching in the city’s public schools, Dr. Scales joined the staff at historically Black Winston-Salem State University. She served as dean of women, director of student affairs and assistant vice chancellor of student affairs and development.
Dr. Scales retired from the university in 1994.
I remember Dr. Scales. I graduated from WSSU in December of 1993. I had no idea she was 91 years old. She was such a beautiful person and a dynamic presence at WSSU.