Julia Taylor's Story

Julia Wheeler Taylor was the first female president of Mechanics and Farmers Bank. Her father John Wheeler, a very prominent community figure, was also President of Mechanics and Farmers Bank, so she grew in the Parrish Street and Hayti communities, with the inspiring examples of Viola Turner and Bessie Whitted. Like those women before her, she worked hard, but her work paid off in a way that no one else's had when, despite the odds, she was named president of the bank in 1983, a position she held until 2000. Her living example is an inspiration to young businesswomen. To listen to her stories of growing up in Durham and growing into the position of president, click the link below.