Gloria H. Millner

Location: Hawthorne Inn and Conference Center

Interview by Michael S. Williams
Videos by Jonathan Harmon

Class of 1963

For Gloria H. Millner, her more than 50 years in nursing where she "took to heart the care of [the] Black community" began in 1960. Originally from Fieldale, Virginia, she enrolled at the Kate Bitting Reynolds Hospital School of Nursing after initially planning to attend the all-Black Medical College of Virginia's St. Philip School of Nursing. The Medical College of Virginia, a predecessor of Virginia Commonwealth University, decided to close the school, in part due to desegregation, and Millner headed to Winston-Salem.

After graduation Millner received "another blessing" when she was offered a job at "Katie B." She went on to serve in several roles before leaving the hospital for the Reynolds American Company where she became the first Black registered nurse. Millner said the school and hospital were important elements for East Winston residents. "We helped patients feel like they were somebody, someone, and that's important," she said.

Millner is one of five former hospital staffers featured in the Center for Design Innovation's 2019 Present Absence public art project at the Forsyth County Department of Social Services building.