September 28, 2003 - Charlotte Observer: RPCV Julia Maulden turns 90

Peace Corps Online: State: North Carolina: September 28, 2003 - Charlotte Observer: RPCV Julia Maulden turns 90

By Admin1 (admin) on Sunday, September 28, 2003 - 12:54 pm: Edit Post

RPCV Julia Maulden turns 90



RPCV Julia Maulden turns 90

Party celebrates activist's gifts to region
Maulden helped lead Habitat program, was Girl Scout volunteer

GAIL SMITH-ARRANTS

Staff Writer

KANNAPOLIS, NORTH CAROLINA - Julia Maulden turned 90 on Saturday, celebrating the milestone in Kannapolis, where her husband was a doctor in the community and her children were born.

But the party given in her honor Saturday afternoon, at the home of retired English and Bible teacher Fran Black Holland, wasn't all about what Maulden did for Kannapolis.

It was about what she has done for the whole community -- in fact, the entire Charlotte region.

Julia Maulden's vision, with others, led to the building of Charlotte's first Habitat for Humanity house in 1983. She is a former executive director of the program, which recruits volunteers to build houses for the poor.

Under her leadership in 1987, Habitat brought former President Carter to the Optimist Park neighborhood to help build 14 Habitat homes.

The list goes on: Maulden, who had four children, also is a former Peace Corps and Girl Scout volunteer, missionary, teacher and Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board member.

Her work with Habitat and the Girl Scouts meant the most to her, Maulden said. A scout camp in Kannapolis, Camp Julia, was even named in her honor.

"She's given so much of her time to help others. She never tried to do things for herself," said J. Carlyle Rutledge, 93, a former state legislator, lawyer and businessman who has known Maulden for decades.

Ann Johnston, one of the nurses in the late Dr. Paul Maulden's office, also looked after the Maulden children as needed.

"I remained a lifelong friend with her and her children," Johnston said. " They're just wonderful people. ... I became the baby sitter, and the go-after, and everything for them."

In the 1960s, the Mauldens moved to Davidson, and after that, Julia Maulden started to get involved in community activities in Mecklenburg.

About 50 people attended her birthday party, talking about Maulden and how lovely she still looks, over the chicken salad, fruit, toasted pecans and petit-fours. People came from Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties, and her son, Kerry, traveled from Tennessee.

Although Maulden is well-known for her community work in Mecklenburg, Holland mentioned something that may be unsung outside Cabarrus: Maulden is a former chairman of the Kannapolis Bible Teachers Association, and it was she who decided to hire Holland as a Bible teacher in 1951 at Cannon High School, later to become A.L. Brown High.

That's how Holland first came to know her. And that association is still going strong after 50 years, Holland noted.

"She was the person responsible for my wonderful life here," said Holland, who also taught English for 22 years at Concord High School.
Gail Smith-Arrants: (704) 786-2185; gsmith-arrants@charlotteobserver.com.



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Story Source: Charlotte Observer

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Older Volunteers

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