# 26 GREATNESS IN SERVANTHOOD

   # 26 GREATNESS IN SERVANTHOOD

THE STORY OF ANNA MEANS HOOD

By

Vernon M. Herron

In the gospel of St. Matthews 20:26, Jesus teaches that greatness is found in servant hood. “…whosoever will be great among you, let him/her be your ‘servant’. “  Recently, while driving through Charlotte’s Lincoln Heights Community, I was struck by an unusual and impressive sight. I noticed a female senior citizen, using a cane pen nail to pick up trash from the sidewalks and streets and placed the same in a bag. She had parked her car nearby and was conducting a ministry of cleanliness and neatness for the common good, rather than to wait on government or any other organization.

The irony of this experience was the recognition of the personhood of this female senior citizen. It was none other than the distinguished Mrs. Anna M. Hood, a life- long community servant, an educator, political adviser, a prominent Presbyterian, a philanthropist and the widow of the late Dr. Calvin A. Hood (ΑφΑ), who was a distinguished and beloved professor at JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY of Charlotte, NC.

Mrs. Anna Means Hood (AKA)

Anna Means Hood was born in Spartanburg, SC to the late Nathaniel Means and Reavie Alexander Means. She attended the public schools of Spartanburg County and is a 1951 graduate of the former Carver High School in Spartanburg. Mrs. Hood is a 1955 Graduate of South Carolina State University with a B.S. degree in Business Administration.

Anna Hood is the first person of color hired by the Social Security Administration in 1963 in Mecklenburg County and the Piedmont area. Her efficiency and noble courage led to the hiring of additional persons of color by the Administration in 1965. She retired from the Agency in 1990.

Active in the community, Mrs. Hood is the co-founder and a past president of the  Charlotte Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc.  The club emphasizes service to mankind and awards annual scholarships to worthy students. The scholarship program bears her name.

Other involvements of Mrs. Hood include being a former president of the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, an elder in Memorial Presbyterian Church, Oaklawn Park Community Improvement Organization and the AKA Sorority.

Widow Anna Hood has three adult children: Darryl, Rodney and Venita; seven grand children and two great grands.

TODAY

WE SALUTE

MRS. ANNA MEANS HOOD