Evening star., 1943-01-10
Miss Gay Shepperson
Made Acting Head Of
Public Welfare Board
To Succeed Van Hynine;
Dir. Dorothy Ferebee
Named for Agency

Miss Gay B. Shepperson, principal
assistant director of the District
Board of Public Welfare, will be-
come its acting director to fill the
post left vacant by the resignation
of Conrad Van Hyning, it was
learned yesterday.
Mr.. Van Hyning's resignation will
be submitted to the Commissioners
tomorrow and will become effective
in about month.
In another development yester-
day, Commissioner Guy Mason an
nounced he would nominate DR.
Dorothy B. Ferebee, member of the
Freedmen's Hospital staff and active
participant in health and welfare
affairs here, to be a member of the
Welfare Board to succeed DR.. Henry
j. Crosson, who resigned last sum-
mer.
Mr.. Van Hyning said he was re-
signing to accept an appointment as
territorial director for Federal Sc
curity Agency services in the Carib-
bean area. While he was reluctant
to leave the District service, he said,
he wants to have a more active part
in the war effort.
Leaving Called Severe Loss"
Commissioner Mason announced
he would move the acceptance of
the resignation. adding that Mr..
Van Hyning's departure will be a
severe loss to the work inaugurated
by him."
The commissioner said no one yet
had been considered for the posi-
ton. Miss Shepperson, it was un-
derstood, has stated definitely that
she will not be candidate for per-
manent director. The welfare board
nominated her and the commission
ers approved her appointment as
acting director.
1t was indicated that Miss Shep-
person would not be called upon to
fill Mr.. Van Hyning's other post
that of chief of the OCD division of
civilian mobilization
There was some speculation yes
terday on the possibility that Paul
Edwards, former District WPA di-
rector, might be nominated for well
fare director. Mr.. Edwards was
the choice of the Commissioners to
succeed Robert E. Bondy, but the
Board of Public Welfare had its
own candidate. Ray L. Huff, direc-
tor of District penal institutions
Mr.. Van Hyning was the compro-
mise appointment. Mr.. Edwards
who, subsequent to his District job
became an OPA and WPA official in
Puerto Rico. returned to Washing
ton before Christmas to help wind
up the WPA.
Has Long Record Of Service.
Miss Shepperson, who succeeded
Mr.. Van Hyning as principal as
sistant in November, 1941, was re-
sponsible for substantial improve
ment of conditions at the National
Training School for Girls, accord
ing to Mr.. Van Hyning. She is
veteran of 25 years of social work.
The retiring welfare chief said he
considered the two most serious
problems confronting his successor
to be the care of delinquent children
and the need for removal of relief
ceilings, in light of the rising cost
Of living and elimination Of surplus
foods and clothing with which re-
lief clients used to supplement their
checks.
During his 18 months as welfare
director, Mr.. Van Hyning proposed
reorganization plan to put all well
fare activities under three divisions
penal, child welfare and public
assistance-with clear-cut response
bilities for each. Though approved
by the Welfare Board, the plan
never has been acted on by the
Commissioners.
Congressional criticism of the
Home for the Aged and Inflrm at
Blue Plains. the National Training
School for Girls and the Receiving
Home for Children was at its height
when Mr.. Van Hyning took Office
as director. Mr.. Van Hyning sue
ceeded in getting WPA help at Blue
Plains, which was the forerunner
OF substantial staff increases there.
Similar improvements have been re-
ported at the other two institu-
tions.
Favored Strong Home Front"
AS civilian mobilization direc-
tor, he has tried to get over the
Idea that home front" services are
necessary to the war effort. Major
headaches have been the lack of
funds and the problems of securing
day care for children of working
mothers.
DR.. Ferebee, member designate of
the welfare board, has practiced
medicine here since 1927 Born in
Norfolk, Va. she made her home
in Boston and holds a degree from
Tufts Medical School.
She was president of the South
east Settlement Board for 13 years,
member of the Executive Committee
Of the Community Chest. member
Of the board of directors Of the So
cial Hygiene Society. clinical in
structor in obstetrics at Howard
University Medical School and
member of the board of directors
Of the Urban League.
For the past seven summers DR..
Ferebee has been doing volunteer
health work in Mississippi among