Archives for April 2022
Estelle H. McCadden (April 28, 1926 - January 31, 2022), Founder, VSNC, Inc.
Posted April 28, 2022 at 9:58 AM
“While each neighborhood is unique, all face similar issues. From the basics of organizing and conducting meetings to finding resources for needed projects, everyone needs to have the skills to make a difference.”
Estelle H. McCadden (April 28, 1926 - January 31, 2022), Founder, VSNC, Inc.
Estelle H. McCadden departed this life on January 31, 2022, at the age of 95. She founded the Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference in 2001 and was our President until December, 2021. She was born in Franklin County, Virginia on April 28, 1926, the oldest child of Rev. W.N. Hunter and Virginia B. Hunter. She completed her high school education at Lucy Addison High School (1943). Estelle then continued her education at Bennett College in Greensboro, NC. She transferred to and graduated from Morgan State College in 1947. Upon graduation, Estelle was employed by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Estelle married Eugene McCadden, Jr. In 1948. This union produced four children. Her dear husband passed away in 1970.
Estelle taught in the Roanoke City Public Schools system from 1956 until her retirement in 1988. After retirement, she became a ‘Trailblazer for Neighborhoods’ at the local, state, and National level. She co-founded her neighborhood’s own neighborhood organization, the Melrose-Rugby Neighborhood Forum, Inc. in 1990, and also founded the Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference, Inc. in 2000, serving as its president until December 2021. She also served on the Board of Directors of Neighborhoods USA, a national neighborhoods organization for more than 15 years during this time.
Estelle received many accolades for her community service, including 1994 Roanoke Valley Mother of the Year for Civic Affairs, Roanoke Citizen of the Year (2008), the Girl Scouts of Virginia 2019 Women of Achievement Award, and the Vision and Values Award for Teamwork in 2021 from the Friendship Foundation. Estelle was also awarded the Martin Luther King Drum Major for Justice Award and from the SCLC.
The Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference, Inc. Board of Directors & Conference Planning Committee is proud to keep her legacy alive. For her conference, the Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference, the only statewide neighborhood conference held in the United States today, will continue to help make certain that Virginia’s neighborhoods are on top as the places of CHOICE for people live, work, play and invest in!