Emma Dupree Day

Location: R.A. Fountain

Emma Dupree lived her long life in Falkland & Fountain, a little over a block behind RAF. The highlight of this annual event is always hearing from Aunt Emma’s family and the folks who still remember how she cured what ailed them.

This year, Walter Shepherd will update us on his recent research into Emma’s early career assisting Dr. Jenness Morrill in Falkland. Former Mayor Shirley Mitchell will welcome Emma’s family. Special music by Lillian Jackson & Lightnin’ Wells.

Shepherd, who was an assistant dean st ECU’s fledgling medical school when he met Emma Dupree in 1978. The next year, he got David Balch to direct the filming of what would become “Little Medicine Thing,” the extraordinary video of Emma walking about her back yard in town, talking to Shepherd, Balch and crew about and showing off her herbs. Watch it. Shepherd’s work with Emma Dupree was vital in the early formation of what lead to the extensive community health service the medical school currently offers. 

The photo at left gets used a lot across the internet, often without credit, which should always go to Mary Anne McDonald for taking it and a series of others while in the early 1980s she was working with Karen Baldwin and the NC Folklife Institute, with support from the NC Arts Council.

Tags: local history, Special Program