Mary Francis Hill Coley
Georgia midwife and activist who delivered over 3,000 babies
In the early 1900’s, during a period of intense segregation where many had limited access to care and formal educational opportunities, Mary Francis Hill Coley served as an integral perinatal healthcare provider to communities throughout Georgia as a midwife. Coley was trained by apprenticeship with Onnie Lee Logan, an Alabama midwife and went on to deliver more than 3,000 babies. In 1952, she was selected to appear in “All My Babies,” an instructional training film developed by the Georgia Health Department.
Coley is recognized throughout many exhibits about lay midwives who provided care to those in underserved communities. She was featured in exhibits at the Anacostia Smithsonian Museum for African American History and Culture, Columbia University School of Nursing, and Mailman School of Public Health. Coley was known for her willingness to cross racial barriers in order to provide care for those who were in need. View a clip from All My Babies here for insight into her work and contribution to her Georgian community and the midwifery profession.
Advocacy Note: Supported by all three nurse congresswomen, the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 was recently re-introduced in Congress — call your representative to help the pass the only bill written to address the Black maternal health crisis.
Sources
We sourced information for the above biography from Georgia Women, Mindful Living Network, and Midwives of Color.
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