Greater Gainesville Black Nurses Association celebrates its 25th anniversary of service
The Greater Gainesville Black Nurses Association celebrated its 25th anniversary with a silent auction, scholarships and honored members who paved the way for future nurses in the area.
Black nurses celebrate anniversary of group
The gala was held on Saturday at the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center at 837 SE Seventh Ave.
The organization is known for giving Black nurses an opportunity to address health issues that affect the Black community and improving diversity and retention in the nursing field.
The group throughout the years has held health fairs, forums and workshops in Gainesville, Ocala and many of the surrounding cities in Alachua County.
History of Greater G'ville Black Nurses Association
The president of GGBNA, Rachael Drayton, talked about the history of the organization and recognized charter members.
“Hearing her (Vivian Filer, a co-founder of the group) stories about integrating Alachua General Hospital push me,” said Drayton, who has been president of the group since 2021. “If she can do it, I can get up and go to work every day.”
A portion of the funds raised by the silent auction went towards scholarships. Items auctioned included an autographed jersey signed by Steve Spurrier, two Michael Kors purses with matching wallets, a painting from the late Ernest Lee and a book written by Pamela Marshall-Koons, a local author.
The group was co-founded by Filer and Voncea Brusha after the two ran across each other in Washington, D.C, in 1996 at the National Black Nurses Association’s annual conference.
Brusha and Filer realized they were both from Gainesville and since the city did not have a local chapter at the time, they began to plan the founding of a chapter locally.
Founders had distinguished careers
Filer’s career in health sciences spanned nearly 40 years during which she served as a nursing professor and interim director of health sciences at Santa Fe College.
Filer served as president of the chapter for the first eight years from 1997 to 2005.
Brusha was a nurse on the Mother-Baby unit at Shands Teaching Hospital and served as vice president for GGBNA for the first eight years and was later elected as president, a position she held until 2021 before handing the presidency over to Drayton.
Drayton presented yellow flowers to Filer and Brusha, saying that yellow roses signify friendship.
“These two ladies coming together really stands for something,” said Wanda Nichols, who presided over the ceremony. “Honoring charter members is special because they put the idea together and here we are today.”
Keynote speaker also had distinguished career
Filer introduced Mattie Jones, the keynote speaker of the celebration and a retired director of Florida Gateway College of Nursing in Lake City. Jones is Filer’s niece and she said her aunt inspired her to become a nurse.
“On our journey, faith is so necessary,” Jones said. “How many of you all know that faith without work is dead.”
Jones said it is important to teach history to younger generations so they will know the sacrifices that were made.
“When you fail to know your history, you’re doomed to repeat it,” Jones said. “We need to teach our babies our history so they know where they came from.”
Honoring the dead
Brusha and Drayton gave a presentation honoring GGBNA members who have passed away.
“We like to remember all of our members because they worked so hard and we want to remember them,” Brusha said. “It breaks my heart because I remember being president when they were members of the chapter. They were hardworking women. Let’s honor them in spirit as we enjoy the 25th anniversary.”
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The deceased members honored were Gwen Sherman, Verdell Robinson, Teresa Banks, Connie Houchen, Juanita Thomas, Lovetta Smith, Emma Young, Gloria Filer, Angie Harris and Francina Jacobs.
Presentation of scholarships
Filer then presented two Rose Rivers Scholarships to two nursing students.
“It is with great reverence that I acknowledge where we are right now,” Filer said. “We must remember the great people who have passed on. We are happy that their wisdom is intertwined with us. They want us to continue to help those coming into the field of nursing.”
Rose Rivers is the founder and CEO of Restoring Joy to Leadership and served as the vice president and chief nursing officer at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Jacksonville.
Filer awarded Antoinette Noel and Shirley Collins with scholarships worth $500 each.
“I’m so honored and amazed that this organization exists. The president hit it on the nail when she said disparities exist in healthcare,” Noel said.
She said she is attending Santa Fe College’s clinical program every weekend to pursue her degree in nursing.
Drayton presented pink hydrangea flowers to honor nurses who were on the frontlines during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“2020 was the year of the nurse,” Drayton said. “It was a rough year especially for the nurses. We are honoring them with the pink hydrangeas for working during difficult times.”
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville Black nurses celebrate anniversary at Cotton Club Museum
