Ludie Clay Andrews (March 3, 1874 – January 6, 1969) was an American

nurse Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health c ...

, stated to be a pioneer of nursing.

Early life

Andrews was born a proud Mulatto in 1874. Andrews was born in Milledgeville, Georgia, where she graduated from Eddy High School. Shortly after, she decided to enter into nurse training at MacVicar Hospital at

Spelman College Spelman College is a private, historically black, women's liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman rece ...

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

, graduating in 1906. Spelman College later closed its nursing program in 1928.

Career

Following graduation, Andrews was hired as Superintendent of Lula Plantation Hospital and Preparation School, an affiliate of the Atlanta School of Medicine. At Lula Grove Hospital, she was responsible for educating student nannies. When

Emory University Emory University is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1836 as "Emory College" by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory, Emory is the second-oldest private institution of ...

merged with Lula Grove Hospital, Andrews became superintendent of the "

colored ''Colored'' (or ''coloured'') is a racial descriptor historically used in the United States during the Jim Crow Era to refer to an African American. In many places, it may be considered a slur, though it has taken on a special meaning in Sout ...

" section at Grady Hospital. Because of her superior skills in organization and nursing, Dr. W. B. Summerall sought out her expertise to organize the Municipal Training School for Colored Nurses. In 1909 the Georgia State Board of Nurse Examiners did not allow people of color to take the state licensing exam. Andrews began legal proceedings against the board to end this, and persisted for over 10 years. The board offered to license her alone as an "exceptional individual," but she refused unless all were allowed. She succeeded in her effort in 1920.

Death

In 1969, Andrews was tragically found dead after a house fire caused massive damage to her home. Her funeral was held at West Mitchell Christian Methodist Episcopal Church on a Friday afternoon, and she was buried at

South-View Cemetery South-View Cemetery is a historic African-American-founded cemetery located approximately 15 minutes from downtown Atlanta, Georgia. An active operational cemetery on over 100 acres of land, it is the oldest African-American cemetery in Atlanta, ...

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1874 births 1969 deaths People from Milledgeville, Georgia American nurses American women nurses Spelman College alumni Burials at South-View Cemetery