From slavery to the White House, the Ficklin family served presidents for nearly 8 decades

A Legacy of Service: Three Generations From Slavery to the White House

John Wrory Ficklin was just 7 years old when he first grasped his father’s significance. As the nation mourned President John F. Kennedy in 1963, young Wrory sat with his mother and brother watching television coverage of the funeral from their Washington apartment. Suddenly, his mother gasped. There on screen stood his father, James Woodson Ficklin, wearing a morning suit beside Kennedy’s casket among the White House ushers.

This moment marked just one chapter in an extraordinary American story spanning nearly eight decades of White House service across three generations of the Ficklin family. From Franklin D. Roosevelt to Barack Obama, the Ficklins served 13 presidents, witnessing and participating in pivotal moments of American history.

Woodson Ficklin dedicated 44 remarkable years to the White House residence staff, while his son Wrory contributed 40 years to the National Security Council. Together with other family members who also worked at the executive mansion, the Ficklins maintained a constant presence through one-third of America’s 250-year existence.

“The book is my family’s history, it’s African American history and it’s our country’s history,” Wrory told The Associated Press, referring to his memoir, “An Unusual Path: Three Generations from Slavery to the White House.” “My dad and I both stand on my grandfather’s shoulders, and I like to think that we both contributed a lot to our country.”

The family’s American journey begins with James Strother Ficklin, Wrory’s grandfather, born into slavery around 1854 in Rappahannock County, Virginia. During the Civil War, Strother served as a water boy for the Confederate army. After emancipation, he initially performed odd jobs for his former owners.

Following the death of his first wife during childbirth, Strother remarried in 1894 and moved to Youngstown, Ohio, seeking escape from Virginia’s racial climate and opportunity in the booming coal and steel industries. Though the family later returned to Virginia for reasons unclear, Strother and his second wife had managed to save enough to purchase 37 acres in Amissville, Virginia, in 1901. There he built a house and farmed to support his growing family.

After his second wife died in childbirth, Strother married Vallie Lee Davenport in 1907. They had ten children, including John Woodson Ficklin, whose White House career would ultimately span over four decades.

At 15, Woodson moved to Washington in 1934, living with his sister while working odd jobs and attending night school. He graduated in 1939—the same year his older brother Charles began working as a White House butler. With Charles’ help, Woodson secured a part-time position washing dishes and assisting the butlers.

World War II briefly interrupted their White House careers, but both brothers returned to promotions afterward. Charles became head butler while Woodson was appointed butler. Woodson’s second day on the job brought a memorable encounter when he served breakfast to President Harry Truman and First Lady Bess Truman.

Under President Eisenhower, the brothers’ careers continued to advance. Charles was promoted to maître d’—the most senior butler position—while Woodson became head butler, managing six full-time staff. When Charles retired in March 1967, Woodson again followed in his brother’s footsteps, assuming the top position.

As maître d’, Woodson oversaw all White House social events, from intimate luncheons to elaborate state dinners. He coordinated presidential birthdays, South Lawn barbecues, visits from British royalty, and annual Christmas celebrations. Notable events included Tricia Nixon’s 1971 White House wedding and Susan Ford’s decision to host her senior prom at the executive mansion.

Throughout his career, Woodson earned the trust and confidence of the first families he served. Many sent personal notes of gratitude for his flawless execution of White House functions.

“Our family is most grateful to you for the time and interest you devote to make each occasion so enjoyable and memorable for our guests and for us,” wrote First Lady Patricia Nixon in October 1969.

Following the signing of the Egypt-Israel peace treaty in 1979, President Jimmy Carter expressed similar appreciation: “Everything was perfect and we are grateful.”

When Woodson retired in May 1983 after 44 years of service, the Reagans honored him with an unprecedented gesture—an invitation to attend a state dinner for the emir of Bahrain as a guest. He is believed to be the first member of the White House residence staff ever accorded such an honor. Seated at the First Lady’s table, Woodson told reporters she “put me at ease and made me feel like a guest.” Observing the service staff, he proudly noted, “Those are my boys. I trained them.”

Woodson Ficklin died in December 1984 at age 65, but the family legacy continued through his son.

“Seeing my Dad on television was a big deal, and to see him participating in our president’s funeral service was beyond my youthful comprehension,” Wrory wrote. Years would pass before he fully understood “the severity and the importance” of his father’s work.

Wrory’s own White House career began with a high school summer job delivering sealed envelopes between the White House and the Watergate special prosecutor. He also occasionally assisted his father in the pantry during state dinners and major events.

In 1975, Wrory joined the National Security Council staff, beginning as an evening clerk while attending college during the day. By 1987, he was training new staff members. His career culminated under President Obama with a promotion to special assistant to the president for national security affairs.

Upon retiring in 2015, Wrory made a special request to his boss, National Security Adviser Susan Rice: Could he attend a state dinner, like his father? The request was granted, and Wrory and his wife Patrice attended the state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping. For the occasion, Wrory wore his father’s tuxedo jacket and cummerbund from 1983, with minor alterations.

The dinner marked the highlight of his career. “Just to experience firsthand the quality of the service, the precision of the butlers, the type of service that they provided, was a legacy to my dad, actually,” Wrory reflected, bringing full circle a family tradition of service that helped shape the American presidency across generations.