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

n this undated photo provided by The White House, John Woodson Ficklin poses for a photos with President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter at the White House in Washington. (The White House via AP) John Wrory Ficklin poses for a photo inside the Decatur House at the White House Historical Society, Feb. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner) 3 of 7 | John Wrory Ficklin poses for a photo inside the Decatur House at the White House Historical Society, Feb. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner) In this photo provided by The White House, John Woodson Ficklin and his wife Nancy talk with President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan as they attend as guests at a State Dinner at the White House on July 19, 1983, in Washington. (The White House via AP) 4 of 7 | In this photo provided by The White House, John Woodson Ficklin and his wife Nancy talk with President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan as they attend as guests at a State Dinner at the White House on July 19, 1983, in Washington. (The White House via AP) John Wrory Ficklin speaks during an interview with the Associated Press inside the Decatur House at the White House Historical Society, Feb. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner) 5 of 7 | John Wrory Ficklin speaks during an interview with the Associated Press inside the Decatur House at the White House Historical Society, Feb. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner) In this 1975 photo provided by The White House, President Gerald Ford speaks with John Woodson Ficklin in the residence of the White House in Washington. (White House Historical Association/The White House via AP) 6 of 7 | In this 1975 photo provided by The White House, President Gerald Ford speaks with John Woodson Ficklin in the residence of the White House in Washington. (White House Historical Association/The White House via AP) In this 1983 photo provided by The White House, John Woodson Ficklin talks with first lady Nancy Reagan at the White House in Washington. (The White House via AP) 7 of 7 | In this 1983 photo provided by The White House, John Woodson Ficklin talks with first lady Nancy Reagan at the White House in Washington. (The White House via AP)