LINCOLNTON, N.C. — Women don't like to typically tell their age, but Mary Frances White, owner of Ebony & White's Funeral Service in Lincolnton, proudly says she turned 68 in February.

White grew up in Lincoln County, where she ran for city council in Lincolnton three times, finally winning the seat in 2018.

Her campaign win made history, with her becoming the first person of color to be elected to office in the city.

White thinks minorities in Lincolnton haven't put forth the effort to run for office, because they think it's an impossible win.

Lincoln County church leaders say minorities in the past felt it was pointless to run for elected office.

“We were always told, 'You can’t win, why are you running,'" Reverend Gregory Floyd says.

Unofficial Lincoln County Historian Gregory McBryde says it took a trusted business owner and woman like White to draw out the vote.

"The demographics in Lincolnton is about 70/30, Black to white, and it's often hard to get minority candidates to run," McBryde says.

White's business is in what is historically referred to as the Freedmont District of Lincolnton, that’s where the freed Blacks lived after the Civil War.

During her time in office, she has added a sidewalk to her Pine Street neighborhood.

Neighbor Teresa Avery, who enjoys walking a mile in her neighborhood, says the sidewalk was much needed. Avery was used to walking in the street, dodging cars, and having to also walk in people's yards. Now, with the sidewalk, she is able to enjoy a safe walk.

"I love to walk, I love to walk in the heat of the day, I usually walk by myself," she says.

White says she hopes her position in elected office will inspire other minorities to do the same, take a leadership position and create change in their community.

"From the words of Kamala Harris, I may have been the first, but I won’t be the last," White says.