By Lee Wardlaw

lee@claytodayonline.com

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Felecia Hampshire was the first Black woman to become mayor of Green Cove Springs, something she never expected in her long and twisted life.

“It wasn’t like being on the city council or becoming the mayor was even on my radar screen. I grew up in this community and always wanted to give back in some capacity, but never in my life did I think that I would become a (publicly-elected) official.

Hampshire served her community as mayor twice – in 2009 and 2014.

She lists Joe Love, the first Black mayor in city history whose campaign she worked for in the 1970s, and Matthew Tinney, who served as mayor, as pioneers that provided her with the inspiration needed to pursue a career in the field of public service.

“I was inspired by those two men,” she said. 

Simple issues such as roads and quality of life were what originally drove her to attend and speak at the city council and other local government meetings in the first place before being elected to office.

“What drove me to more city council meetings was that it was a little rough around here in the 1980s. We have five kids, and we wanted them and other children to have the best quality of life possible in their hometown,” Hampshire said.

But the quality of life wasn’t the only issue.

“People want equality, and one of the reasons I wanted to be on (the) council was to make sure we received that. There was a separation in communities when I was growing up as a little girl, into my teenage years, and even some of my adult life. They would call it one side of the railroad tracks versus the other side of the railroad tracks,” she said.

Hampshire isn’t only a groundbreaking and historic Black woman in Green Cove Springs and Clay County in the field of public service, though.

The lifelong resident of Green Cove Springs that serves as a motivator and positive and encouraging voice to residents from all walks of life in the city also boasts accomplishments in other fields. 

After 37 hard-working years at the Clay County District Schools office, Felecia finally retired after 38 years of working in the human resources and transportation department.

She spent 16 years with transportation, where she handled important tasks like family and medical leave, recruitment and payroll.

Also, as president of the Florida Education Association's local 7409 chapter and member of the organization's executive cabinet, she took several common, everyday issues to both Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.

Hampshire still serves a role on the governance board of FEA.

As an activist, she led a group called Breaking Away The Cycle of Pain and helped rename Middleburg Avenue to Martin Luther King Boulevard in the 1990s.

Hampshire talked to the residents of Middleburg Avenue to get permission to change the name to honor the civil rights leader.

Finally, Felecia helped continue the tradition of city’s soul food festival alongside Tinney, her husband, Clarence and several others after the event was first inspired by John Sanders.

Hampshire is proud of her accomplishments. She’s happy to recall stories and share a glass of lemonade on her porch.