West Virginia nonprofit director who called Michelle Obama an 'Ape in heels' in racist Facebook post to return to work this month - as her fractious history at the organization is revealed

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The director of a West Virginia nonprofit whose racist post about Michelle Obama got her suspended from her position will return to work this month. 

'It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I'm tired of seeing a Ape in heels,' Clay County Development Corporation director Pamela Ramsey Taylor wrote after Donald Trump was elected as president. 

She was then placed on a suspension that, according to a letter written by the agency's acting director and obtained by the Charleston Gazette-Mail, will end on December 23. 

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Clay County Development Corporation director Pamela Ramsey Taylor was suspended after she wrote a Facebook post about Michelle Obama. She returns to work on December 23

'I'm tired of seeing a Ape in heels,' Taylor, the director of Clay County Development Corporation (CCDC), wrote about Michelle Obama in November

Taylor compared Obama (left) to 'the classy, beautiful, dignified' Melania Trump (right). This wasn't the first rough time that Taylor has had since working at the CCED

This isn't the first time that Taylor, who has worked at the CCDC since the late '90s and became director in 2007, has seen trouble there.

She was dismissed in 2002 after being accused of taking fundraising money, but then hired back again shortly after, according to a lawsuit deposition seen by the Gazette-Mail.

It wasn't clear which suit that deposition was for, but Taylor was sued in 2007 by a former employee for wrongful dismissal.

Clay Mayor Beverly Whaling also got in trouble for liking the post. In 2002, Taylor was dismissed after allegations that she stole fundraising money, but was then rehired

Brenda Baird, a bookkeeper there from 2000-2007, claimed she was unfairly fired by Taylor in 2007 for questioning how money was spent in the organization.

Baird said that she spotted discrepancies on Taylor's tax forms - discrepancies that Baird claims she was told to ignore. She received a written reprimand after arguing with an employee about the issue.

Then, in 2007, she questioned the board of directors about employees apparently getting double the typical raises, and receiving bonus checks.

That complaint was passed on to Taylor, who accused Baird of 'trying to her get fired' according to the suit. 

Baird was dismissed for 'gross misconduct and insubordination', but said she hadn't been formally reprimanded for insubordination since 2002.

Taylor said in her own deposition that Baird had tried to make her look incompetent, and was the one who signed off on the bonus checks. It was settled out of court for an unspecified amount in 2009. 

Taylor's racist post also had consequences for Clay Mayor Beverly Whaling, who 'liked' it, and added the comment 'Just made my day Pam'. She resigned from her position on November 16.  

Whaling wrote 'Just made my day Pam' on the post. She resigned shortly afterward. Taylor was sued in 2007 by a former bookkeeper who claimed she spotted tax and salary irregularities 

Video courtesy of WSAZ 3 

The post was deleted, but not before it was shared hundreds of times on social media. Taylor has also suspended her Facebook account.

The two women apologized for their remarks after controversy began to build.

'My comment was not intended to be racist at all,' Whaling said in a statement to The Washington Post. 

'I was referring to my day being made for change in the White House! I am truly sorry for any hard feeling this may have caused! Those who know me know that I'm not of any way racist!

'Again, I would like to apologize for this getting out of hand!'

Pamela Ramsey Taylor also said sorry on her Facebook account, which she set to private.

Earlier, their comments sparked a huge furor in the small county, with many branding the post 'racist' and 'vile' and demanding that both officials stand down.

Tinna-Jamie Conner, addressing the two officials, said in a Facebook post: 'Here's a news flash for you deplorable classless beings. OUR First Lady, Michelle Obama personifies and exudes beauty, grace, class, intelligence, humility, strength, patience, passion and HOPE.

 

Many in Clay County derided the post. The 2007 suit claimed Taylor unfairly dismissed the bookkeeper for trying to 'make her look incompetent'. The suit was settled out of court in 2009

'Neither of you idiots could hold a candle to her on your hottest day. Say what you will, but your hate and racism is ugly.'

Dianne Degen Joyce added that Taylor's comments was not only 'vile' but incorrect.

Others agreed: 'That goes without saying. Michelle Obama is the epitome of class, grace and style,' Celeste DuMas Reinhard said.

Some Facebook users pointed out that president-elect Trump's wife Melania had previously stripped off for modelling jobs, while Michelle Obama had been involved in politics.

Others simply demanded Taylor and Whaling be fired.

Robin Brown said: 'Women can and SHOULD make them lose those jobs. They should be publicly humiliated.'  

On November 14, the state bureau’s commissioner, Robert Roswall, warned the non-profit's staff that 'any discrimination of staff or the customers [they] serve' could lead to federal and state funding being cut, the Gazette-Mail said.

That letter was sent around the same time that Taylor's post began to receive major media attention.

In 2014, the organization, which services and financial assistance to Clay County's low-income and elderly residents, received about $1.5 million in federal funding and $363,000 in state funding.