Page 45 - Robeson Living

Dr. Cheryl Ransom Locklear was our first Miss
Lumbee. She received the title at the inaugural
event in 1967. She was later crowned by LRDA in
1998. Dr. Locklear is a pioneer Lumbee woman
dentist who has had a career of firsts over the
past 50 years.
She is the daughter of the late Flora C. and Marvin Ransom.
She grew up in Fairmont and the family later moved to
Lumberton. In 1971, she graduated Valedictorian from
Pembroke Senior High School. Dr. Locklear is a 1975
graduate of Pembroke State University and earned the
Summa Cum Laude distinction. She graduated from UNC CO GRAND MARSHALL
Chapel Hill with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1979.
She was the first Native American accepted into the school.
Her daughter, Dr. Nanci Locklear Harp, graduated from
UNC’s School of Dentistry in 2000. They were the first
mother/daughter graduates to earn the distinction. Dr.
Locklear also holds a Master’s in public health from UNC
Chapel Hill. The Carolina blue is a family affair, as all three Dr. Cheryl Locklear
of her children are UNC graduates. Her daughter, Dr. Sarah
Ransom Brewington, graduated from UNC Pembroke in years later she was named one of 25 “Pathmakers: North
2002 and from the UNC School of Medicine in 2006. Dr. Carolina Native American Women of Distinction.” She
Brewington works for Sandhills Pediatrics in Southern received an eagle feather in honor of her recognition.
Pines. Christopher Marvin Locklear also followed the trail American Indian Mothers presented her with the Medicine
his mother blazed to Chapel Hill. He graduated in 2005 with Shield Award in 2008.
a double major in communications and drama. Christopher Dr. Locklear has served on the UNC Chapel Hill Board of
and his mother are partners in Liberty Realty Group, LLC. Visitors and has chaired committee for the American Dental
The business is upstairs in her dental office at 239 S. Main Association for local program. She is a lifetime member of
St., Red Springs.
the American Dental Association and the North Carolina
Dr. Locklear blossomed as a young teen during the summer Dental Society. Dr. Locklear served on the UNC Pembroke
of 1967. Just before she became the first Miss Lumbee, she Board of Trustees from 1995-2003. She was board chair
became the first Native American to serve as a page in the from 2001-2003. She then became a member of UNC
North Carolina House of Representatives at the age of 14. Chapel Hill’s Board of Visitors from 2003-2007. In 2007, she
David Britt appointed Dr. Locklear when she served that was elected to the UNC Board of Governors and served
June. By age 26, she would become a dentist and she until 2011. She was Secretary of the Finance Committee
opened her own practice in Red Springs in 1985 where she from 2010-2011. She has served on the BB&T Advisory
now partners with daughter Nanci. She served as Public Board in Red Springs since 1993. Dr. Locklear is a member
Health Dentist for Robeson and Bladen Counties from of Berea Baptist Church in Pembroke where she sings in the
1980-1985. Before opening her private dental office in choir and a member of Pembroke BPW.
December 1985, she developed/piloted the first dental
sealant program that today is a state wide school program. Dr. Locklear has three grandchildren, Hollister (10), Lily (4)
In 2002, she pledged the Beta Chapter of Alpha Pi Omega and Seth (2). Her sons-in-law Chris Harp is an investment
Sorority, Inc. advisor with CH Capital Management and Ben Brewington
is with the NC Highway Patrol.
Dr. Locklear has also been a licensed real estate broker
since 1997. She has garnered numerous honors through the “I have always been proud of our Lumbee Heritage and this
years and is highly visible in the dental community. She was land that we call “home”! “Welcome Home Lumbee Nation”
one of five “Outstanding Women in North Carolina” in 1981,
two years after finishing dental school. UNC Pembroke
recognized her as its “Outstanding Alumna” in 1993. Two