A section of Interstate 85 in Warren County has been named in honor of former Congresswoman Eva Clayton.

Officials from the N.C. Department of Transportation, along with friends and family, gathered this weekend to celebrate both Clayton’s birthday and the highway dedication. Signs on I-85 from Ridgeway Drewry Road (Exit 226) to the Warren-Vance County line commemorate Clayton’s legacy in North Carolina.

Clayton earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte and a master’s in biology and general science from N.C. Central University. In 1982, she was elected to the Warren County Board of Commissioners and served as the chair until 1990, before making history in 1992 as the first Black woman to represent North Carolina in Congress. She was elected to serve in Washington, D.C. and served for 10 years, during which time she advocated for the interests of North Carolina’s First Congressional District in the northeast portion of the state.

Her involvement in civic and political affairs was sparked by the civil rights movement. In 2022, Gov. Roy Cooper presented Clayton with the North Carolina Award, the state’s highest civilian honor.

Clayton continues to reside in Warren County, where she remains active in the community.