Neighborhood resident Vivian Castleberry celebrated her 90th birthday with the Dallas Women’s Foundation last week. Castleberry was a journalist, humanitarian, women’s rights leader, diplomat, author and teacher.
She is a founder of the Dallas Women’s Foundation and has been called the godmother of the women’s rights movement in Dallas. Castleberry started working at the Dallas Times Herald in 1956, and she became the paper’s first female editor. In a time when “women’s news” meant engagement and wedding announcements, she transformed the women’s page to tackle serious issues, including domestic violence and civil rights.
“Vivian is the inspiration and force behind a great network of women, here and around the world, who are committed to the belief that investing in women and girls is the surest way to advance positive social change,” said Roslyn Dawson Thompson, president and CEO of Dallas Women’s Foundation. “She has led the community in every aspect of women’s issues, and by her example and encouragement, empowered thousands of women to raise their voices and take action.”
Castleberry also authored four books. She is founder of the Family Place, Women’s Issues Network, Peacemakers Inc. and the Women’s Center in Dallas.
She lives in our neighborhood with her husband, Curtis W. Castleberry. They have five daughters, 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
