WS Chronicle

When discussing impactful public servants here in Winston-Salem, few can contend with the track record of Dr. Vivian H. Burke. As part of our Women’s History Month Series, we take a moment to look at Burke’s legacy of service that spans over four decades.  

A native of Charlotte, Burke showed an interest in politics as early as high school when she started working as an advisor to then Charlotte City Council candidate Kelly Alexander, who would go on to serve as chair of the NAACP.  

After high school Burke attended Elizabeth City State University, where she would meet her future husband, Logan Burke. Upon graduation, the couple would relocate to Winston-Salem in 1954, where Logan served two terms in the N.C. House of Representatives and Burke began her career in education.  

For more than 20 years, Burke worked as a teacher and guidance counselor in the local school district. Although she has been on record many times talking about how much she loved working in education, Burke’s passion for politics was always there. She served as leader of the Forsyth County Democratic Party, and in 1972 she was Forsyth County manager for Rep. Shirley Chisholm’s campaign. Chisholm is the first Black candidate for a major political party’s presidential nomination.  

While still working as a guidance counselor full time, in 1977 Burke decided to run for Carl H. Russell’s vacant seat on the Winston-Salem Board of Alderman (now City Council). With the campaign slogan “A Time for Change,” Burke went on to win the nomination to represent the Northeast Ward, becoming one of the first Black woman to serve.   

Dr. Burke would go on to serve for more than 40 consecutive years. Although small in stature, Burke was a powerful presence in the city known for her commitment to inclusiveness and equality. In a 2013 interview with The Chronicle, while reflecting on her time spent in office, Burke said it wasn’t easy, but she was determined to make a difference.  

“When I first became an elected official, it wasn’t easy in City Hall,” Burke said. “It was a place where they felt that it was a man’s world … it you look at our city, with the employees that we have now, we truly believe that women – the woman’s role – is so important.”  

On the board of alderman and city council, Burke was the first Black woman Mayor Pro Tempore and chair of the Public Safety Committee. She led the push to bring major changes to the Winston-Salem Police Department, including establishing the Citizen’s Police Review Board. She also played a major role in the creation of the Human Relations Department and the Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program. Burke also pushed to have more qualified Black people in positions of power and to have women recognized.  

She is credited for starting the Outstanding Women Leaders Award, the annual Citywide Neighborhood Conference, the East Winston Economic Development Initiative, and the Burke-Joines Scholarship Award.  

Burke was also a member of several boards and associations, including the NAACP, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., National Women of Achievement, and countless others. Burke was also a founding member of the local Black Political Awareness League.  

Burke passed away in 2020. For her dedication to the citizens of the Northeast Ward and the entire City of Winston-Salem, the Public Safety Center was renamed in her honor. The Chronicle also established the Vivian H. Burke Public Safety Award, which is presented annually at the Community Service Awards.  

When discussing her legacy and the impact she had on the city, Allen Joines, who is Winston-Salem’s longest serving mayor, said Burke was a champion for equality.  

“Councilmember Vivian Burke was a remarkable woman who leaves a legacy of accomplishment that shaped the city that is Winston-Salem today. Throughout her 43 years on the city council, she was a tireless leader and advocate for equal rights and equal opportunities for all our citizens,” Joines said.  

Councilmember James Taylor, who is a native of Winston-Salem, said it was an honor to watch Burke in the community and to work with her. Taylor, who represents the Southeast Ward, was first elected in 2009. He served with Burke for nearly a decade.  

“She worked tirelessly to create strong community ties, and she used her influence to uplift local neighborhoods, businesses and community organizations,” Taylor continued. “Being around her taught me that true leaders don’t develop followers, they develop other leaders. Vivian Burke was a true leader and a fierce advocate for her family and the entire City of Winston-Salem.”  

Forsyth County Commissioner Tonya McDaniel said Burke helped pave the way for her to be elected to office in 2018. “I have to pay homage to Dr. Vivian Burke … If it wasn’t for them seeing the vision that District A needed to have more representation that represented the constituency, I wouldn’t be here.”  

Dr. Pam Peoples-Joyner, director of community engagement with the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD), said Dr. Burke was an advocate for the people who always put the needs of the community first.  

“She was not just a leader, she was a steadfast advocate for the people, always prioritizing their needs and lifting their voices in every decision,” Dr. Peoples-Joyner said. “Vivian Burke was a strong supporter of the people, dedicated to fighting for their well-being in all aspects of her work.”