Quessie Johnson, became the first woman cab driver in Rocky Mount, NC., she worked for United Cab Company. Miss Quessie, as she liked to be called, was a driver for 14 years, from 1954 to 1968.

Her daughter, Gracie Smith, said, “She always wanted to drive a truck, a big rig. She knew the manager of the taxi company and was able to get a job driving a taxi instead.”

Despite working during segregation, Miss Quessie had passengers of every race.

“Her white passengers loved her,” Smith said. “She didn’t see color. She had a big heart and loved people, and people felt the same way about her. She was very loving.”

Miss Quessie passed away in 2007.

Photograph and narrative source: Black History in Edgecombe County (NC), Discover Edgecomb county.