Leila Suttle Forbes

After being first appointed by her longtime friend, Governor O. Max Gardner (1882–1947), a native of Shelby and the founder of the “Shelby machine,” Leila Suttle Forbes, also a native of Shelby, served on the ECTC board of trustees from 1929–1945. Forbes was subsequently reappointed by Governor John C. B. Erhlinghaus (1882–1949) and Governor Clyde R. Hoey (1877–1954), also from Shelby and the brother-in-law of Governor Gardner.

After graduating from Baptist Female University (now, Meredith College), Mrs. Forbes taught in Albermarle, N.C., not far from Shelby, before marrying, in 1906, Charles Samuel Forbes (1877–1943), a graduate of Trinity College (now, Duke University). The couple then resided in Greenville where Mrs. Forbes was a member of the Memorial Baptist Church and the Sans Souci Book Club. She later worked at Sheppard Memorial Library, built and donated to the town in 1930 by the wealthy manufacturer, Harper D. Sheppard (1868–1951), a native of Greenville.

Mrs. Forbes lived on Evans Street across from Sheppard Memorial. Her father-in-law, Alfred Forbes (1829–1905), one of Greenville’s wealthiest men, owned an expanse of land bordering South Evans Street and gave each of his children (five daughters, two sons) a lot on which they built stately homes, all in a row, soon known as “Forbestown,” then one of the most picturesque areas of the town. Among the most handsome of these homes was the Forbes-Moye House built by Mrs. Forbes’ sister-in-law, Hortense Forbes Moye (1872–1954) and her husband, Dr. Elbert Alfred Moye (1869–1914). No doubt, Mrs. Charles S. Forbes’ prominence in Greenville also influenced her selection as an ECTC trustee.

Following Robert H. Wright’s passing in 1934, the trustees organized a committee to draw up resolutions of respect honoring the late president. Mrs. Forbes served on that committee along with F. C. Harding and her neighbor, E. G. Flanagan of Greenville. Mrs. Forbes also joined the trustees in selecting Dr. Leon R. Meadows (1884–1953) as Wright’s successor. Close in age to Meadows and, like Meadows’ wife, a Greenville book club leader, Mrs. Forbes emerged as one of Meadows’ most loyal supporters as his time in office spiraled downward with allegations of financial mismanagement, embezzlement, and finally, his resignation, indictment, trial, conviction, and imprisonment. Yet at every step along the way, Mrs. Forbes remained a stalwart supporter of the embattled president. In this, she joined the four other women on the board of trustees — Mrs. W. B. (Mary) Murphy (1888–1980) of Snow Hill, Mrs. John G. (Margaret Weyher) Dawson (1888–1975) of Kinston, Mrs. Charles M. (Ruth Moore) Johnson (1893–1972) of Raleigh, and Mrs. F. L. (Eula) Greathouse (1893–1970) of Rocky Mount — all of them resolute backers of Meadows.

In the summer of 1945, before Meadows’ trial concluded with his conviction, Governor R. Gregg Cherry (1891–1957) announced a series of new appointments to the ECTC board. An outspoken critic of Meadows’ mishandling of student funds, Cherry declined to reappoint those on the board who had earlier supported Meadows and whose terms expired in June of 1945. These included Mrs. Charles S. Forbes, Mrs. John G. Dawson, and Mrs. W. B. Murphy. Two women remained on the board — Mrs. Charles M. (Ruth Moore) Johnson (1893–1972) of Raleigh, who served from 1935–1948, and Mrs. F. L. (Eula) Greathouse (1893–1970) of Rocky Mount, a trustee from 1943–1947 — but Cherry reappointed neither when their terms expired.

Sources

• “A Beautiful Wedding Celebrated at Shelby Wednesday Evening.” News and Observer. January 5, 1906. P. 6.
• “Charles S. Forbes.” News and Observer. October 22, 1943. P.
• Cotter, Michael, ed. The Architectural Heritage of Greenville, North Carolina. Greenville, N.C.: Greenville Area Preservation Association, 1988. P. 26.
• Daniels, Josephus. “G. Washington Reverses His Appraisal of Greenville.” News and Observer. November 24, 1931. P. 4.
• “Five New Members Named To ECTC Trustees’ Board.” News and Observer. August 18, 1945. P. 2.
• Forbes, Charles S. “The Family of Charles S. Forbes, Jr.” Chronicles of Pitt County, North Carolina, 1982. Greenville, N.C.: Pitt County Historical Association, 1982. Entry # 588, p. 309.
• “Forbes House.” 1910–1920. East Carolina Manuscript Collection # 0605-b1-fb-i140. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N.C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/60332
• Hadley, Herbert W. “Alfred Forbes Family. Chronicles of Pitt County, North Carolina, 1982. Greenville, N.C.: Pitt County Historical Association, 1982. Entry # 579, Pp. 308-309.
• “Memorial Library, Greenville, N.C. View.” 1938. East Carolina Manuscript Collection # 0275-b1-fd-i13. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N.C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/29
• “Memorial Library is Opened at Greenville.” News and Observer. October 18, 1930. P. 2.
• “Moye House.” 1920–1950. East Carolina Manuscript Collection # 0605-b1-fb-i140. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N.C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/60331
• “Mrs. Leila S. Forbes.” News and Observer. March 1, 1964. Sect. 2, p. 14.
• “Reception at Shelby.” News and Observer. August 15, 1902. P. 6.
• Rives, Ralph Hardee. “Dr. Elbert Alfred and Hortense Forbes Moye.” Chronicles of Pitt County, North Carolina, 1982. Greenville, N.C.: Pitt County Historical Association, 1982. Entry # 988, Pp. 549–550.
• Sans Souci Book Club Records, 1913–2002. Manuscript Collection # 436. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N.C.
• “Select Acting College Head: Trustees Name Meadows For Temporary President Of Greenville School.” News and Observer. May 3, 1934. P. 2.

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