Terry Sanford in Fayetteville in Cumberland County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Beth Dail Finch
November 13, 1921 - December 26, 2012
| | Mayor Beth Finch Park | |
Beth Dail Finch was born on November 13, 1921, and grew up in Fayetteville, N.C. She was a pioneering civic leader who made history as Fayetteville's first female mayor in 1975. She was elected to the Fayetteville City Council and served from 1971 until 1975 prior to becoming mayor.
Finch quickly gained a reputation for her dedication to education, youth programs, and economic development. During her mayoral tenure, she championed modernizing infrastructure, revitalizing downtown, and forging stronger partnerships with nearby military communities, including Fort Bragg. She became the first female president of the North Carolina League of Municipalities in 1980. She was also the first woman appointed to the Board of Directors for the Fayetteville Technical Institute and was simultaneously elected as one of the first women to the Pembroke State Board of Trustees in 1973.
She was renowned for her warm people-focused leadership style. She encouraged civic engagement and also remained committed to expanding opportunities for Fayetteville residents. Though she left office in 1981, her influence on local politics and community
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Finch passed away on December 26, 2012, at the age of 91, leaving a legacy as one of Fayetteville's most trailblazing public servants, an enduring example of visionary leadership, and steadfast dedication to her hometown.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is November 13, 1921.
Location. 35° 3.241′ N, 78° 52.656′ W. Marker is in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in Cumberland County. It is in Terry Sanford. It is on Green Street north of Bow Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 212 Green St, Fayetteville NC 28301, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lafayette's Tour (a few steps from this marker); Cornwallis (within shouting distance of this marker); William Bartram Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); John Newberry (within shouting distance of this marker); Henry F. Shaw Cross Creek Linear Park (within shouting distance of this marker); First Presbyterian Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Marquis de Lafayette (within shouting distance of this marker); James Dobbin McNeill (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fayetteville.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 38 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 19, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
