My Mother, Janie. R. Gaddy:
My Mother, Janie R. Gaddy, Was Born On January, 17, 1932, In Smithfield, North Carolina.
The Youngest Of Seven Children, Born To Irene And George W. Pearsall, She Watched Her Father Establish A Successul Grocery Store And Become A Prominant And Respected Business Man Within Johnston County's Black Community.
At The Age Of 18, Janie Left Home To Attend Virginia Union And Pursue Her Childhood Dream Of Becoming A Nurse. She Majored In Biology, Was Active In Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority And Later Attended The Wilmington NC, Training School Of Nursing.
By 1956, She Had Become A Registered Nurse And Started What Would Be A 25-Year Career, Working At Various Medical Facilities Throughout The State Of North Carolina.
Her Reputation For Professionalism And Dedication Spread Throughout North Carolina's Medical Community. She Held The Head Nurse Position At Every Medical Facility At Which She Worked. She Also Developed Programs And Trained Aides Who Aspired To Be Nurses, While Working At Clinics And Hospitals.
In 1973, My Mother Made History By Becoming The First African American And First Woman To Manage Cumberland County's Blood/Plasma Center. Under Her Management, The Center, Located In Fayetteville, NC, Increased The Public's Awareness Of The Importance Of Blood Donation and Consistantly Ranked Among The Top Medical Facilities, City And County-Wide.
After Retiring In 1981, Mrs. Gaddy Became A Community Activist --- Working With Citizens And Law Enforcement Officials, To Reduce Crime In African American Neighborhoods.
She Died September 17, 1991, After Suffering A Second Stroke. She Continues To be The Inspiration For All That I Do.
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
