In her portrayal of Anna Mac Clarke, Haley McCoy paints a perceptive picture of the life of the Kentuckian who forged military history during World War II. The performance is slated for 10 a.m. Friday at Central Auditorium.
Clarke, a Kentuckian who grew up in Lawrenceburg and attended Kentucky State College (now University). She graduated in 1941 with a degree in sociology and economics. After graduation, she returned to Lawrenceburg, where her degree was useless, as only domestic jobs were available. She left for New York, and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). She quickly made her mark becoming one of the first African-American officers and was singled out for her service by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Clarke worked tirelessly to protest segregation and discrimination in the military, eventually making history when she assumed command of an all-white unit.
In her portrayal of Anna Mac Clarke, McCoy paints a lively and perceptive picture of the life of the Kentuckian who forged military history until her untimely death at age 24 of a ruptured appendix.
The actor, McCoy, grew up in Jackson County and has a special interest in research and historic reenactments. She feels strongly that Anna Mac Clarke’s compelling story needs to be more widely known. McCoy is a graduate of Union College and Lexington Theological Seminary.
The performance is free and open to the public, and for details contact Carolyn Sundy, SKCTC Cumberland, by phoning 606/589-3052.
Central Auditorium is located on West Cumberland Avenue, between Middlesboro Middle and High Schools.
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