From Slavery to Service: The Remarkable Legacy of the Ficklin Family at the White House
For nearly eight decades, the Ficklin family served 13 presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Barack Obama at the White House. The family's legacy began with James Strother Ficklin, who was born a slave in Virginia in 1854. After emancipation, he moved to Ohio to escape racism and later settled in Virginia, where he bought land and raised a family.
One of Strother's sons, John Woodson Ficklin, started working at the White House in 1939 as a part-time dishwasher. He eventually became head butler, overseeing White House events and earning the trust of presidents and first ladies. Woodson retired in 1983 after 44 years of service, receiving accolades for his impeccable work.
Woodson's son, Wrory Ficklin, followed in his father's footsteps and joined the National Security Council staff in 1975. He worked there for 40 years, rising to the position of special assistant to the president for national security affairs under Obama. Wrory retired in 2015, capping off a remarkable family legacy of service at the White House.
Wrory chronicled his family's history in the book “An Unusual Path: Three Generations from Slavery to the White House,” highlighting their contributions to African American and American history. The Ficklin family's dedication to public service and their impact on the White House is a testament to their enduring legacy.