Thereasea Delerine "T. D." Elder (September 2, 1927 – January 5, 2021)[1] was the first African American public health nurse in Charlotte, North Carolina.
During her time at Good Samaritan Hospital, she completed a certificate program in public health nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Her success was measured by the decreased numbers of absences in schools and a greater health literacy among the families she was responsible for.
[4] Mecklenburg County tasked Elder with the responsibility of breaking the color barrier in public health service.
She founded the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Black Historical Society and was on the Board of Greater Carolinas Chapter of the American Red Cross.