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On February 9, 2021, the Houston-Peach branch of AAUW held a hybrid meeting, with members   joining the group from Zoom and from the Byron Welcome Center. The program was presented by Robertiena Fletcher, retired Director of Pharmacy at the Houston County Healthcare Complex.

Mrs. Fletcher was born in Americus, Georgia.  In 1963, more than 30 African-American girls ages 11 to 16 were arrested for taking part in Civil Rights protests in Americus. They were taken without their families’ knowledge to a Civil War era stockade in Leesburg, Georgia, where they were confined in unsanitary conditions and exposed to brutal treatment. Over  weeks, their commitment to the fight for equality was amazing. Mrs. Fletcher was one of those girls, and shared her experience with us. She also shared many of her other experiences, which include many “firsts.” For example, in 1964, she was one of three African Americans to integrate public schools in Americus, Georgia.  After three tumultuous years, she was proudly one of the three African Americans to graduate in 1967. In 1978,  when she became the Director of Pharmacy at Houston Healthcare Complex she was their First Black Department Head. Mrs. Fletcher  presently serves as Chairman of the Department of Human Services Board which oversees all Department of Family and Children Services, Aging and Child Support Services., and is the first African-American to hold this position. She has been on many other local and state boards, and is a member of several professional and social organizations.