With deep sorrow, WomenNC mourns the loss of a beloved advocate, mentor, and leader—Juanita Bryant, who passed away on June 15, 2025. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and to the broader North Carolina community she so passionately served.
Juanita proudly represented North Carolina at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. That experience deeply shaped her life’s work. Inspired by the mission of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), she worked tirelessly to translate global goals into tangible progress for women’s rights here at home.
As the first President of the NC Council for Women, Juanita brought her global perspective to the local stage. She was a driving force behind community coalitions advocating for the ratification of CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women), championing its adoption in North Carolina and in the U.S. Senate during Senator Elizabeth Dole’s term.
Her belief in equity, community, and young people naturally drew her to WomenNC, where she served on our Advisory Board. In recognition of her extraordinary legacy, we proudly named our fellowship program the Juanita M. Bryant Youth Leadership Training Program—a lasting tribute to her deep belief in the power of youth to lead change. Through this program, her influence continues to shape the next generation of advocates and global citizens.
Juanita’s courage, inclusivity, and radiant optimism left a lasting mark on all of us. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy lives on—in the work we do, in the leaders she inspired, and in the movement for equity she helped build.
May her memory be a blessing—and a call to action.
