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Draft:Eliza Pillars

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Eliza Farish Pillars (April 26, 1892-June 15, 1970) was the first black public health nurse in Mississippi.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S3bLEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA364&dq=george+lane+milwaukee+mississippi+sickle&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwic1dPardKMAxWImbAFHas4DeIQ6AF6BAgEEAM#v=onepage&q=george+lane+milwaukee+mississippi+sickle&f=false|title=Mississippi Black History Makers|first1=George A.|last1=Sewell|first2=Margaret L.|last2=Dwight|date=August 16, 2011|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi|via=Google Books}}{{Cite web|url=https://cnhi-benoist.nursing.virginia.edu/node/3146|title=Eliza Farish Pillars, RN: 1st black PH nurse in Mississippi | Mississippi Public Health Nursing in the 1960s|website=cnhi-benoist.nursing.virginia.edu}} The Eliza Pillars Registered Nurses of Mississippi, a professional organization of African American nurses in Mississippi, is named in her honor.{{cite web|accessdate=May 3, 2025|url=https://elizapillars.org/history|publisher=Eliza Pillars Registered Nurses of Mississippi|title=History}}

Early life and education

Eliza Farish Pillars was born on 26 April 1892 in Jackson, Mississippi. She attended public school in Jackson. Following high school, she attended Utica Normal & Industrial Institute, and then completed her nurse's training at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nursing career

After graduating from nursing school, Pillars worked for private physicians and then owned and ran a small hospital.

On February 1, 1926, Pillars became the first person of color to be a nurse for the Mississippi State Board of Health, and the first black public health nurse in Mississippi. She had a statewide role in providing public health education and training midwives. She retired in 1950.

In 1951, Pillars received the Mary Mahoney award from the American Nurses Association (ANA),{{Cite web|accessdate=May 3, 2025|url=https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/eliza-farish-pillars/|title=Eliza Farish Pillars (1892–1970), Nursing Leader|work=Mississippi Encyclopedia|first=Linda |last=Sabin

|date=June 1, 2021|publisher=Center for Study of Southern Culture, University of Mississippi}}{{cite journal|author=Mississippi Nurses Association|date=January 1951|title=Jackson Nurse Receives Mary Mahoney Medal|work=Mississippi RN|location=Jackson, MS|volume=6}} which is given for significant contributions...to integration within the nursing profession."{{cite web|accessdate=May 3, 2025|url=https://www.nursingworld.org/ana/national-awards-program/

|title=National Awards Program|publisher=American Nurses Association}}

Death and recognitions

Pillars died on June 15, 1970 at the age of 78.

In 1986, Pillars was inducted into the Mississippi Nurses Association Hall of Fame.

References

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