North Carolina Nursing History

Avery County

County History:

Avery

Region:

Western

Quick Facts

County seat: Newland, NC
Population: ~17,806 (2020 census)
Avery county website

People and Biographies

Notable individuals from nursing history.

Goldie Allen (1920s-1930s): Avery county's first community health nurse.
Carmen Lacey (1957- ): President of Cannon Memorial Hospital, recently retired.
Delia Smith Rominger (1918-2014): Graduate of and nurse at Grace Hospital for 30 years. Born in Banner Elk, NC.
Elizabeth Holman Spence (1899-1977): Nurse and wife of Presbyterian minister Dr. Thomas Hugh Spence, Jr.

Avery County World War I Military and Casualties (includes nurses)

Resources

Additional resources for further research.

Books and Articles

Gilmer, M.D. (1999). Panorama of caring: The story of two hospitals. Avery County Health Care Systems: Linville, NC.
Pollitt, P.A. & Moore, K.M. (Winter, 1992). Appalachian health care: the Grace Hospital School of Nursing. American Presbyterian, 70 (4). This article describes one of the first schools of nursing in Appalachian North Carolina.

Archives

Grace Hospital, Banner Elk, N.C. Elevation 4,000 ft. [postcard] from UNC North Carolina Postcards digital collection

Compiled by:

Phoebe Pollitt