Annie Zachary Pike, a farmer and community activist from Phillips County, made history as the first Black appointee to a state board and went on to serve on various federal organizations appointed by President Richard M. Nixon. Born in 1931, Zachary Pike overcame segregation and gender expectations to become a successful farmer and advocate for her community.
After marrying Grover Zachary in 1952, she took over their farming operation when he had a stroke, utilizing new technologies and innovative farming techniques to ensure the farm’s productivity. Alongside her farming duties, she was an active member of the Arkansas Negro State Home Demonstration Council and the Arkansas Republican Party.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Zachary Pike was appointed to numerous prestigious roles, including the White House Conference on Aging and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Citizens Advisory Committee on Civil Rights. She also used grant money to develop the Zachary Subdivision, allowing poor and working-class Blacks in Marvell to own their homes.
Despite facing challenges such as the death of her husband and political losses, Zachary Pike remained committed to serving her community. In 2002, a road in Phillips County was renamed in her honor. Today, she continues to reside on the family farm in Marvell and remains active in community events.
Annie Zachary Pike’s legacy as a pioneering Black woman in Arkansas politics and agriculture is a testament to her resilience and dedication to improving the lives of those in her community.
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