A dedication for the Dr. Mary Margaret McLeod Mural will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2022 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Lee County Government Center located at 530 Carthage Street in Sanford.
The mural honors Dr. Mary Margaret McLeod as a pediatrician who started the first pediatric medical practice in Sanford in 1946, where she served the community for more than 40 years. Dr. McLeod is also known locally for her famous “Fanny Cream.”
In 2018, a representative of the Susan Reeves Literary Club, along with Historic Preservation Planner Liz Whitmore, appeared before the Board of Commissioners to present a request proposing the installation of a mural at the Lee County Government Center honoring the life and work of Dr. Mary Margaret McLeod. The Club raised money to fund the mural installation, and in 2019 the Sanford Appearance Commission solicited designs for the mural.
The Lee County Board of Commissioners then selected a design by local artist Chris Dalton. Dalton began the installation of the mural in February 2021 next to the Social Services entrance of the Government Center. The mural features representative images of children treated by Dr. McLeod, and will be included in Sanford Mural Art Trail.
“Dr. Mary Margaret McLeod is the first mural that honors a woman in Sanford and Lee County, and I do believe that she deserves this great honor,” Liz Whitmore, a Planner in Historic Preservation for the City of Sanford, said. “The Appearance Commission and the Public Art Sub-Committee work hard in reviewing the proposals for all the murals that are submitted — a huge thank you to both of these committees is greatly deserved. I would also like to thank the City of Sanford Council and especially Rebecca Wyhof Salmon, Council liaison to the Appearance Commission, for their continued support of the Public Arts Program and a tremendous thank you to the Lee County Commissioners who reviewed the proposal and granted permission for this mural to be placed in this appropriate location.”
“On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, I’d like to extend our appreciation for Dr. Mary Margaret McLeod and the services she provided to many Sanford and Lee County residents,” Lee County Board of Commissioner Robert Reives said. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to honor Dr. McLeod and ensure her legacy is remembered.”
For questions about the event, contact Liz Whitmore at 919-718-4657 ext 5393. Media inquiries may be directed to Lee County Communications Specialist Hailey Hall at hhall@leecountync.gov.