Velma H. Friende

Velma H. Friende, The Maroon and Gold, 1961

Velma H. Friende (1928-2020), longtime educator and champion of volunteerism, had an influence on young people that went well beyond her 35-year career in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System. The Winston-Salem native taught French, worked as a guidance counselor, and served the broader community through the Winston-Salem Urban League Guild and as a driving force behind the Ebony Fashion Fair returning to the city year after year. Friende used both organizations as pathways to increase literacy among youth and raise college scholarship funds. Her education included graduating from Atkins High School at 15, Bennett College at 19, and earning a master's in French Education from NC A&T. She taught French at Carver and Atkins High Schools before transitioning to counseling. Her local ties and education provided Friende the access and knowledge to serve young people; she often noted a "highlight" of her career was awarding student scholarships to ensure college was an option for them.

Video: Hessie Smith, Jr., Atkins class of 1960, discusses being in class with Mrs. Friende.

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