15

Moore introduced her mother who trained at the CCCH to be an LPN in the early 50s and went on to train as a RN. “My mother was born and raised in Milan, TN,” began Long. “She knew from early in childhood that she wanted to be a nurse. The only place she was able to make that dream come true anywhere in this area was here at Collins Chapel.” Bishop Williamson Sr. followed Long’s remarks by acknowledging her as being a ‘wonderful daughter’ and explained how some of our children ‘don’t get it’. “Some of our children don’t get it; we have a great legacy, but it must be passed on,” said Williamson Sr. “Sometimes our children don’t get it. Many times we own the land, but then we loose the land. We sell the land. Land is the one thing God isn’t making any more of. You need to hold on to the land. And then hold on to the professionals and this daughter is passing it on.” Bishop Williamson Sr. thanked Long and her mother before introducing Moore’s former co-worker, Geraldine (Stinson) Reed. “Mrs. Reed worked here in surgery,” Williamson exclaimed. “Mrs. Reed, come here and sit by your Bishop! She is going to tell us what it was like to work here and serve here, at Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital. “I go back a little bit farther than this building, I helped to build this building,” said Reed. I was at the old building. As a matter-offact, Ms. Moore and I trained together at the old building in the early 50s. I worked with Dr. Castleberg and some of the other doctors and you said it was white and black doctors, which it was, Jewish. We didn’t discriminate against any faith. I grew up a CME. That’s how I got here in the irst place—because I grew up a CME. To work in surgery was the last few years of the hospital from the late 50s until the early 70s when it closed was when I worked in surgery. We didn’t do any major heart surgery, but we did do major lung surgery, and we did what the hospitals were doing at that time. Then the E.H. Crump hospital opened. They were the city-owned black hospital that black people could attend, so that’s when we folded as a hospital.” Williamson commended Reed on her abilities to speak eloquently and again referenced the need for children today to understand the importance of becoming educated. He reminisced about the training offered to students at CCCH and how it helped form them into lifelong professionals. Bishop Williamson Sr. said, “Great healthcare professions, they could train from cradle to career!” The program ended with a request for donations for the historical landmarks $5 million dollar renovation and expansion project. All were invited to make a one-time or recurring tax-deductible donation in the amount of their choice ($100—$5,000 suggested) to preserve and bring the Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital back to life. Larger gift donors were instructed to contact the CME Church at (901) 345-4114 for naming rights opportunities and more information. Tickets for the Living Legacy Brunch to be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, March 14, 2020, at the Esplanade Banquet and Conference Center, 901 Cordova Station Avenue, Cordova, TN 38018-6316, are $100/person and include admission to the brunch, and a souvenir booklet with ads and sponsorships. Checks should be made payable to: Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital and mailed to Post Ofice Box 16776, Memphis, TN, 38186-6776. Payments can also be made online at https://www.paypal.me/ccchmemphis. On hand for the Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital Reunion were (seated from left) former CCCH trainee Henretta Moore and daughter Lynette Long, former trainee Geraldine (Stinson) Reed, and CCCH Board of Directors and Executive Committee Chairman, and CME Church First Episcopal District Presiding Prelate, Bishop Henry M. Williamson Sr. 15

16 Publizr Home