Biographical Text
Professor Emerita of Elementary Education Beatrix Blanton Ramey (August 14, 1913 ), retired college professor, was born in Lattimore, North Carolina, the daughter of John Samuel Blanton (September 11, 1889-February 23, 1947) and Garva Ella Harrill Blanton (June 27, 1891 ). Jenny Beatrix Blanton was married on May 30, 1958 to the late S. Arnold Ramey (December 25, 1914-December 17, 1971), the son of Samuel Shirley Ramey (October 7, 1890-September 21, 1965) and Ida Todd Ramey (January 30,1888-August 24,1976) of Low Gap, North Carolina. After graduating from Lattimore High School in 1930, Ramey attended Boiling Springs Junior College (now Gardner-Webb College) where she received her A. A. degree in education in 1933. After receiving her A.A. degree Ramey opened a sewing shop in Shelby, North Carolina, which she owned and operated until 1936. In 1938 Ramey began work on her B.S. degree in education at Appalachian State Teachers College (now Appalachian State University) and graduated in 1940. Ramey then moved to Courtney, North Carolina where she joined the faculty at Courtney Elementary School and taught there until 1943. After leaving Courtney Elementary School Ramey accepted a position with the Hickory, North Carolina public school system where she taught elementary and junior high school for 15 years (1943-58) and served as a guidance counselor (1956-58). During this time Mrs. Ramey attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received her M.A. degree in elementary education in 1948. And in 1956 she earned her M.A. in guidance from Appalachian State University. Additionally, Ramey did post-graduate work at the University of Colorado where she did a special study of bright learners during the 1957-58 summer session. Ramey taught summer school at Appalachian State during the summer sessions from 1953-56, serving as instructor in the department of education. She became a full-time member of the departmental faculty in 1958 as an instructor and supervisor of student teachers. Ramey dedicated much of her off-hour time serving as an education consultant in various North Carolina counties. She also organized, evaluated and taught extension courses and in-service workshops in the Charlotte, Gastonia, Lexington, Shelby and Rutherfordton areas. During her tenure at Appalachian State Ramey served on the Faculty Senate, University Committee on Public Service, Faculty Senate Student Welfare Committee, Elementary Education Personnel Committee and North Carolina Association of Educators-Student Chapter (which she chaired). Professionally, Ramey was affiliated with the National Education Association, North Carolina Association of Educators, Association of Teacher Education, North Carolina Association of Teacher Educators, National Society for the Study of Education, and National Education Association of Higher Education. She is listed in Who's Who Among American Women. Ramey retired from her position at Appalachian State University in 1979 with the rank of full professor. The board of trustees granted her emerita status in 1980 in recognition of her contributions to the university Beatrix and her husband had many hobbies, among them that of tracing the genealogy of their ancestors. They spent many hours in libraries, courthouses, museums, cemeteries and archives trying to locate and learn about these early people. Between them they had two publications in the field of genealogy: Cleveland County Marriages and 1850 Cleveland County Census. In her retirement Ramey is continuing her genealogy hobby and her membership in professional organizations. She is secretary to the board of directors of the Cleveland County Historical Association. She is a board member of the Old Tryon Genealogical Society, and conducts seminars in genealogy in Rutherford and Cleveland counties. She is a regent of the Flint Hills Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. And, she maintains membership in the following groups: The North Carolina Genealogical Society, the Virginia Genealogical Society, the Broad River Genealogical Society, the North Carolina Museum of History Associates, Inc., the American Association of Retired Persons, the North Carolina Retired School Personnel, the North Carolina Retired Governmental Employee's Association, the Cleveland County Community Concert Association, and the editing committee of the Cleveland County and Rutherford County Heritage Books. Sources: Appalachian State University files and personal correspondence. - Dr. Richard D. Howe and Ms. Laurie Vong
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