Viola Davis Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Viola Davis Brown
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|---|---|
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| Born |
Viola Davis
April 8, 1936 |
| Died | December 22, 2017 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Nurse and State Agency Administrator |
| Spouse(s) |
Percy H. Brown
(m. 1957–2017) |
| Children | 5 |
Viola Davis Brown (born April 8, 1936, died December 22, 2017) was an amazing woman from Lexington, Kentucky. She played a big part in the Civil Rights Movement, working to make sure everyone had fair and equal rights. She also helped improve health care and medical training in Kentucky.
Contents
Early Life and Education Journey
Viola Davis was the daughter of Donnie and Mable (Bryan) Davis. She married Percy H. Brown on June 29, 1957. Together, Percy and Viola had five children: Clarence, Michael, Bonnie, Donna, and Linda.
In 1959, Mrs. Brown made history. She became the first African American student to attend the Nazareth School of Nursing. This school was connected to St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.
After graduating in 1959, Viola Brown quickly became a Supervisor of Nursing. This was a huge step! In 1960, it was the first time an African American person received such a promotion in Kentucky.
Becoming a Nurse Practitioner
Viola Brown continued her education. In 1972, she earned a special degree from the University of Kentucky. This made her a certified primary care nurse practitioner. She was part of a new program at the university.
She was one of only two African American registered nurses (RNs) in Lexington to achieve this. Her certifications allowed her to work as a registered nurse in Kentucky and as an advanced nurse practitioner.
Viola Brown's Impactful Career
After finishing her studies at the University of Kentucky, Viola Brown worked as an office nurse. She was at Holloway, Playforth and Archer, P.S.C., in Lexington from 1966 to 1972. Soon after, she became a Primary Care and Family Nurse Practitioner for Hunter Health Care, Inc., also in Lexington.
Leading Public Health in Kentucky
In 1980, Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown Jr. chose Viola D. Brown for a very important job. She became the Executive Director of the Office of Public Health Nursing for the Kentucky Department of Health Services in Frankfort, Kentucky.
This was a groundbreaking moment! Brown became the first African American nurse to lead a state office of public health nursing anywhere in the United States.
In 1982, she took on another big role. She became the Principal Assistant to the Kentucky Commissioner of Health. In this job, she was the main nurse representative for all parts of the state government. She also worked with local health departments and health professionals in Frankfort.
Growing Nursing in Kentucky
Governor Wallace Wilkinson appointed Brown to lead a special team in 1988. This team worked to solve the shortage of nurses.
During her time as Principal Assistant, the number of public health nurses in Kentucky grew a lot. It went from 350 to 1400! She held this important position through the terms of five different governors.
Awards and Community Involvement
Viola Brown was recognized for her amazing work many times. From 1981 to 1982, she was on a committee to find a new leader for the University of Louisville School of Nursing.
Starting in 1984, she helped train nursing students. She worked with students at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing and the College of Allied Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
In 1991, she received an award from Jefferson Community College in Louisville, Kentucky. That same year, she was chosen to connect the state with the Office of Minority Health. She also joined the Alzheimer's Committee in 1992.
Retirement and Lasting Legacy
Viola Davis Brown retired on August 31, 1999. She had served as the Director of Public Health Nursing for 19 years. She was a key part of the Kentucky Department for Public Health from 1980 to 1999.
Mrs. Brown helped advanced registered nurse practitioners get the power to prescribe medicine. In 1998, the Kentucky Association for Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners gave her their Nurse Practitioners Award.
She also promoted public health across the United States. She was very active in the Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing. In 1999, the Kentucky Nurses Association honored her as "Distinguished Nurse of the Year."
In 2004, Viola Brown was inducted into the University of Kentucky College of Public Health Hall of Fame. She also gave guest lectures at many universities. These included the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Berea College, Kentucky State University, Murray State University, and Georgetown College.
Memberships and Honors
Viola D. Brown was a member of many important groups. These included the American Public Health Association and the American Nurses Association. She also belonged to the Kentucky Public Health Association. From them, she received the Dr. Russell E. Teague award in 1991.
She was also part of the Southern Health Association and the Kentucky Nurses Association. The Kentucky League for Nursing gave her a Special Recognition award in 1989.
Resources
- "Brown, Viola Davis: Her essay won a prize, but she couldn't go to the ceremony." Lexington Herald-Leader A-1 col. 1–4 and A-6. 2004.
- Viola Davis Brown." Marquis Who's Who. New Providence, NJ: Marquis Who's Who, Inc. (2010).
- Reinette Jones, "Viola Davis Brown". Notable Kentucky African Americans Database. University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington, Kentucky. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
