Rosa Belle Eaddy Woodberry Dickson: SC's First Woman Mayor
Read more about Belle Dickson at Johnsonvilleschistory.org Rosa Belle Eaddy (1868-1953) was born in Johnsonville, a daughter of Henry Edison Eaddy and Eliza Louisa Huggins. Rosa Belle Eaddy Woodberry Dickson (1869-1953) Belle Dickson was likely the first woman elected mayor in the state of South Carolina. The News and Courier noted on Oct 1, 1925 that she was elected as a compromise candidate as a tie was reached in the vote between her husband, R.B. Dickson and a Mr. Bishop: "There being no way to settle the tie, the two factions agreed to the nomination of Mrs. Dickson, wife of one of the candidates, and she was unanimously elected. . . the people of Johnsonville are satisfied that her administration will be a most progressive one." Rosa Belle Eaddy was a role model for any independant woman of her time. Born in Johnsonville in 1868, Miss Belle was known as a person of exceptional ability. She was multi-talented woman, chosing a career as a school teacher and thus b