NASW Foundation National Programs

NASW Social Work Pioneers^®

Louise Fleming Surratt

Louise Surratt was born on October 19, 1904. She received an AB from the University of Montevallo, and did some graduate work at the University of North Carolina and the University of Chicago.

Most of her work was in the Colbert County part of Alabama. The Alabama Child Welfare Department in 1933 employed her as a child welfare superintendent. She was exceedingly efficient in developing a local public program, and interpreting social services to the community, that she became the first director of Colbert County’s Department of Public Welfare in 1935. This is where she remained until her retirement in 1976.

Ms. Surratt was Vice President of the Alabama County Director’s Association, a member of the Alabama Public Welfare Association Committee, and active in civic and church work.