Forget Me Not 

Biographies

Hilda Lee Bullock Jolly learned about “Katie B.” when her Music teacher and guidance counselor found a place “Where black girls could learn to take care of the sick and dying.” When she arrived in Winston-Salem, the smell of menthol in the air sickened her; she was a long way from the large family and the small farming community that was home. She came by bus on a one-way ticket with no money. Another young lady saw her with her suitcase asking for walking directions to “Katie B.”, and invited her to share her taxi, setting the stage for her experience as a student. At “Katie B.” Jolly’s new mentors and guides were the nursing faculty, hospital nursing staff, medical attendings and residents, upper classmates and all the members of the auxiliary staff. Each ensured that the students not only knew what to do to handle a medical situation, but why do it that way. Knowing medicine is a practice, students and faculty explored every medical situation in consultation with each other. Students consulted with each other from the basics of Henry Gray’s Anatomy of the Human Body and challenges of David Sabiston’s Textbook of Surgery, and made rounds together with attending doctors, residents, interns, faculty nurses ,each sharing knowledge from their specialty. All the people in this hospital imparted a willingness to become life- long learners and life-long teachers, and prepared us to care for the community we served wherever we found ourselves.

At graduation from “Katie B.” Jolly received the “Sara Truesdale Award” for having the highest score on the state boards that year. She earned her nursing degree from NCCU in Durham, then became the first black nurse fully trained at Duke University School of Nurse Anesthesia. After teaching in the open heart and neurosurgery specialty at Duke, she moved to Washington DC and co-founded the Greater Southeast School for Nurse Anesthesia. Jolly’s final nursing position was Administrative Chief Nurse Anesthetist at a level one Trauma Center in Cheverly Maryland, wrapping a short nursing career– just 34 years. Then Jolly embodied that life-long love of learning, attending Bible college where she earned a Bachelor of Theological Studies, to seminary, earning a Masters of Theology and Ministry and a Doctorate of Theological Studies and Ministry. She then served in foreign mission fields from 2004 until 2016. Jolly completed the Chaplaincy Training from UNC Nash and was certified as a Clinical Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor, and now works work at Nash-UNC as a Hospital Chaplain.

Mrs. Gloria H. Millner fell in love with the field of medicine at age 12, when she witnessed the professional care her mother experienced at an all-Black hospital near her home in Virginia. Her high school counselor played a key role in connecting her with many schools of nursing, including Kate Bitting Reynolds, where she received a 3 year scholarship. She was the first member of her family to continue studies beyond high school. Arriving at “Katie B” in Winston-Salem, after a long ride with her dad, Millner felt excited to be a part of a Black community where she was warmly welcomed and received. Millner began her studies at “Katie B” School of Nursing from 1960-1963 and became a Registered Nurse. She received an award for the highest GPA in her class. After graduation she accepted the position as staff RN at the hospital. During her employment she served as Surgical Charge Nurse and 3-11 shift Hospital Supervisor.

The legacy at “Katie B” fed Millner’s professional experiences. Millner states, “for many Blacks, this training set her path in medicine and education.” Millner earned her BSN degree from WSSU, W-S, NC, graduating Magna Cum Laude, received certification (COHN-S) financed by Reynolds American Company. For more than 49 years of service, Millner worked joyfully at “Katie B” and was the first Black RN at Reynolds American Company. Millner said, “the presence of “Katie B” provided the community much pride in having the facility, qualified professionals, and ancillary personnel that provided reliable quality medical care.” Millner notes that the closure of the hospital widened the gap in medical disparities for the Black community that lost a sense of family among all of us. Millner currently serves as Deacon at her church, member of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., Board member of Salvation Army Senior Center, Ujima CDC, “Katie B” Reunion Committee and loves her family.

Jacqueline Noble Howell first encountered “Katie B.” as a student nurse, accepted into the program in 1966 and made the journey to Winston-Salem on a Trailways Bus with most of her worldly possessions. Howell writes, “I had so much luggage that no taxi would transport me to the school. It was the kindness of an unknown gentleman who offered to transport me to the school that set the tone for the degree of kindness, concern and love I would experience during my 3 year matriculation at the school,” She was named “Most Outstanding Freshman” her first year at “Katie B.” She describes how nursing students were taught the scientific principles for the nursing skills they practiced, and the effect their actions could have on patient/ family outcomes, and the community’s view of nursing, medicine, health and wellness. The support and nurturing she received from the “Katie B” hospital staff and the East Winston community set the stage for her successful nursing career. She graduated in 1969, and after becoming a Registered Nurse, subsequently obtained a BSN degree from NCCU and Master of Public Health degree from UNC Chapel Hill School of Public Health.

Her career began as a Surgical Staff Nurse and Evening Supervisor at Duke Medical Center. In 1974, she accepted a position with the Durham VA Medical Center where her career quickly advanced from Staff Nurse to Quality Assurance Coordinator, Assistant Chief Nurse, Community Health Nurse Coordinator, and concluded 30 years later as Patient Education Coordinator at the VA National Center for Health Promotion. She has published several articles in professional journals, including a research study on VA Nurses and Shared Governance. After her VA retirement, she became an instructor at the City of Medicine Academy in Durham where her nursing assistant training class afforded her the opportunity to pour the knowledge and skills she received at “Katie B” into the lives of future health care providers. Her hope is that a little of “Katie B” will live on in them.

Phyllis Roberts Little came to “Katie B.” as a student in 1963, then known as Phyllis Marilyn Roberts. Little was born and grew up in Leaksville, which is now Eden, NC, the third child and only girl sandwiched between four boys. Young Phyllis encountered “Katie B.” first as a patient, having contracted polio that affected her left leg and foot at about age 6. She had to have surgery to rearrange the bones so she could walk with her foot flat. After two hospitalizations, she knew she wanted to be a nurse, having been so impressed with everything about the hospital. She was the first nurse in her family and community, having studied at “Katie B.” School of Nursing from 1963-1966. In her senior year, Little wrote away for a brochure for the nursing school, applied and was accepted. She writes, “I kept that brochure and read it over and over for months while waiting to attend. I was so excited to fulfill my dream of becoming a nurse. I didn’t realize at the time that this would set the course for the rest of my life. We were well trained by instructors from WSSU, doctors, nurses and instructors at the hospital”.

“Katie B.” set Little up for a career of excellence. She worked in the Operating Room at Wake Baptist Medical Center for 46 years, her first and only job. She was named one of the “Great 100 Nurses of NC” and was presented The Presidential Citation, the highest award given to any employee at the hospital, and won The Nurse Excellence Award. She writes, “Katie B.” hospital, by its location alone, was the heart and heartbeat of the community. It was a pivotal and necessary part of the community. The care was given by people of our own race. It was staffed by doctors who were African American whose offices and homes were in the community, therefore having a direct connection to the community.” “Katie B.” gave the community good healthcare literally next door for those living in that area. She notes that when “Katie B.” closed, the community also lost a place for teaching and training of nurses, doctors and other professionals.

Dr. Betty Acey Alexander served at Kate Bitting Reynolds Memorial Hospital from 1964-1975, spanning the transition to Reynolds Memorial Hospital in 1970. She worked as Chief Medical Technologist (Director of the Clinical Laboratory), having been recruited from Kansas to come to “Katie B.” The leadership and medical experience there prepared her for teaching and leadership at WSSU, where she founded the Clinical Laboratory Sciences program and served as chair of curriculum development for the occupational and physical therapy programs. Dr. Alexander served as director of Health Careers Opportunity Program from 1986-2006, bringing students from less advantaged backgrounds into health care study and profession.

She notes: “”Katie B” provided the community a hospital where the Black population in Winston Salem had a place to receive proper healthcare and the opportunity for Black healthcare professionals from all over the United States(doctors, nurses, X-ray Technologists, Cardiology EKG Technicians, Nutritionist, and Clinical Laboratory Assistances ) to be trained and educated. A hospital located in the Black community and the (still needed) educational opportunities for Black persons seeking a health career were losses from the closure of the hospital.