Dr. Annie Louise Wilkerson broke limitations to civil rights in fashionable drugs :: WRAL.com
Raleigh, NC – Mention the name ‘Annie Louise Wilkerson’ to anyone who has lived in Raleigh for more than a couple of decades, and chances are they’ll remember her.
Many locals will either say, “She’s the doctor who set me free!” or “She’s the doctor who helped me give birth to my baby!”
Some women can actually say both – for many women who gave birth to her as infants came back to be her patients when they were ready to give birth.
Wilkerson was a ‘mother’ to thousands of Raleigh’s wives – guiding more than 8,000 expectant mothers through their pregnancy journey and helping them become mothers safely themselves.
At a time when it was “virtually impossible” for a woman to become a doctor, she embarked on a 55-year journey into medicine that paved the way for other women – and shaped the future of Raleigh’s healthcare system.
Described as “a pioneer who has transcended traditional gender barriers”, her career began in 1940 when she became the first woman to do an internship and stay at Rex Hospital.
She was Raleigh’s first woman to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology. She played an important role in the successful creation of WakeMed, which got off to a very difficult start, and she was a leader in the de-segregation of medicine in Raleigh.
Despite her historic career, she was told from the start not to become a doctor – her dream was impossible because she was a woman.
However, since she was born in 1914, she began breaking down barriers in the medical field almost immediately.
From country doctor to work around the clock in World War II
Wilkerson spent her early years doing laps in Wake County and with her father, Dr. Charles Wilkerson riding in a horse and buggy.
As early as 1916, when she was only two years old, she was already learning how to become a doctor.
She grew up with her father and taught her basic medical knowledge. Even in her youth “she actually didn’t want to be a girl. She wanted to wear men’s clothes, play games and do sports and always felt very at home in the presence of men,” according to the oral tradition of Dr. Joseph Mosnier, associate director of the Southern Oral History Program at UNC.
She has been described as warm and loving, but strict. She was brave, determined, and always believed in helping others.
She gave birth to her first baby when she was 20 years old – she probably never realized that this would be the first of thousands.
Despite her medical background, her family has severely deterred her from pursuing a career.
“It was virtually impossible for a woman to get into medical school in North Carolina at the time. She went to Virginia but then immediately returned to Raleigh,” England said. “She really was devoted to the city of Raleigh.”
Her courage and determination went beyond crossing social boundaries for women. When polio struck in the 1940s, she played a leading role in the fight against it. During World War II, she tried to get involved in the medical needs of soldiers. However, officials told her that she was needed more in Raleigh.
“With so many doctors being moved to serve the war, Raleigh needed some doctors to help out in the community,” England said.
Breaking down racial barriers in the separation of medicine
WakeMed is a big name in healthcare today – but according to England it got off to a very bumpy start.
“When it opened as Raleigh Memorial Hospital in 1961, it was the first integrated hospital in the state of North Carolina,” he said.
When they brought patients over from St. Agnes, the segregated hospital for African American families, they found it practically impossible to find someone to do the job as chief of staff.
“Nobody would touch it,” he said.
Her contemporaries warned her not to interfere, saying, “It was an uphill battle. Our personal opinion was that she was going to chop off her head.”
In fact, one day a colleague said to her: “You are being beaten up over there.”
Dr. Wilkerson replied, “Someone has to be beaten up.” And she stepped forward.
As soon as she appeared, others followed. Such was her influence that once she took a stand, the hospital became a success.
“She became the first chief of staff in what we now know as WakeMed,” he said.
Prior to WakeMed, Wilkerson worked at Rex and St. Agnes Hospital, so she had worked with African American patients.
“She believed that everyone deserved access to quality health care regardless of race, solvency or anything else about them,” said England.
She was a firm believer in equality and civil rights. She was, England said, one of the few doctors who provided services in Raleigh’s brothel – a fact of which she was very proud.
She bought the Planned Parenthood office in the 1970s.
She believed in meeting the needs of the church in many different ways.
Wilkerson’s Fall’s Lake house still stands – and still benefits Raleigh
Wilkerson’s house and farm, which she bought in 1953, were over 150 acres of land on Falls Lake. Today their farm and home are still there – and their land has become yet another gift for Raleigh’s mothers and children.
When she passed away in 2005, she gave the entire area of over 150 acres to the City of Raleigh. It demanded that the land remain largely untouched – so that generations of future children could roam the wild, open countryside where Wilkerson once gathered their own nephews and nieces.
Her home is still in the Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Conservation Area.
“The land was worth about $ 15 million when she donated it. It’s worth even more today,” said England.
In fact, your generous donation created another historic “first”.
“Your country became the first nature reserve in Raleigh,” said England. “And since then we have established three more nature reserves.”
She once raised cows and gathered lovers on this land. The park’s pristine magic includes giant boulders on the Hidden Rocks trail – and hidden fairy houses dotted around the park. Nature trails ripple and meander around huge green carpets of lush grass and mature trees. It’s a glimpse into the past – what Raleigh looked like before it developed into the city it is today.
“She knew Raleigh was growing and soon such natural spaces would no longer be available,” said England. Wilkerson wanted future Raleighites to have a place where they could “get out in nature”.
Herds of deer literally cavort in the wide, hilly fields. In the distance is a calm lake.
“Pretty much everything on her farm has stayed the same – except for the cows,” said England. This year marks the 10th anniversary of your donation and the opening of the nature reserve.
Visitors can even “visit” Wilkerson as their home is open to the public – much like it was decades ago. In her house there is a room for nature programs – and a small exhibition about her life.
“She was a very humble woman,” said England. “She said she didn’t want a shrine for her life in her home.”
No. She wanted her home to continue to empower and serve the people of Raleigh.
Wilkerson never had birth children of his own. But for decades it brought life to Raleigh and groundbreaking medical advances in opportunities for women. She still looks after her town today – a place where Raleigh’s children can play, grow strong and go their own way.
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