la ▁The od ocia ▁Fre eman , ▁Ver da ▁Welcome ▁was ▁born ▁on ▁a ▁small ▁farm ▁in ▁Lake ▁L ure ▁( pre viously ▁known ▁as ▁U ree ), ▁North ▁Carolina . ▁In ▁ 1 9 2 9 , ▁she ▁moved ▁to ▁Baltimore , ▁and ▁graduated ▁from ▁Co pp in ▁State ▁Te ach ers ▁College ▁three ▁years ▁later . ▁She ▁married ▁Dr . ▁Henry ▁C . ▁Welcome ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 5 . ▁Welcome ▁received ▁a ▁b ach elor ' s ▁degree ▁in ▁history ▁from ▁Morgan ▁State ▁College ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 9 , ▁and ▁completed ▁a ▁master ' s ▁degree ▁in ▁history ▁at ▁New ▁York ▁University ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 3 . ▁Between ▁ 1 9 3 4 ▁and ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁Welcome ▁taught ▁at ▁public ▁schools ▁in ▁Baltimore . ▁She ▁was ▁also ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁D elta ▁S igma ▁Th eta ▁sor or ity . ▁ ▁Polit ics ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 8 , ▁Welcome ▁was ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁Maryland ▁House ▁of ▁De leg ates ▁to ▁represent ▁the ▁Four th ▁District ▁of ▁Baltimore ▁City , ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁black ▁woman ▁in ▁the ▁position , ▁which ▁she ▁held ▁for ▁three ▁years . ▁Elect ed ▁to ▁the ▁Maryland ▁State ▁Senate ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 2 , ▁she ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁black ▁woman ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁to ▁be ▁elected ▁to ▁hold ▁a ▁state ▁sen ate ▁seat . ▁In ▁April ▁ 1 9 6 4 , ▁Welcome ▁surv ived ▁an ▁assass ination ▁attempt ; ▁two ▁men ▁were