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Published each Thursday in Pembroke, N.C. H
Car-at lwa Indian Voice
VOLUME 32 SUM HER 49 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16,2004 ,'v -AN ",3 21.15 25c
Order of the Medicine Wheel Award recipient,
Velma Lowry Maynor: her story
by Dr. Ruth Dial Hoods
American Indian Mothers. Inc. recently presented the Order
of the Medicine H heel Award to outstanding medical professionals.
lei ma Mae l.owry Maynor seas one of those recognized.
This is her story.
VELMA MAE LOWRY MAYNOR
1907 - 1997
Velma Mae Lowry Maynor was born on September 25. 1907. to the
parents of Sallie Hatcher and Edmund Lowry She was the second
child of a family of six girls and two boys Zcnobia (Cummings). Velma
(Maynor). Auzout, Lystra (Oxendine).-Vivian (Lowry). Helen Neal
(Miller). Varcer. and Latha Dale Lowry (Clav) The family resided in
the Elrod Community. currently known as the Hopewell Community
The children were reared in a home with moral and spiritual concepts
guiding their daily lives From the very beginning, they were
taught God's word, the moral interpretation of the Word, and the need
for education The Hopewell School where the received their basic
education was a stone's throw from their home, and Hopewell Church
was the community church where they studied God's word
The children were also taught bv example Edmund Low ry w as a
hard worker who taught school, farmed, and was also a minister of the
gospel His double first cousin, Dr Earl Lowry (whose mother was a
sister' to Sallie Hatcher and wife of Dr Fuller Lowry. a brother to
Edmund) described his Aunt Sally stating as "one of the greatest
persons he ever knew
From her learning and understanding that education and the knowledge
of God were essential. Velma Lowry emerged from this environment
of educational and spiritual awareness, and stepped forward in
life with this essential knowledge and a great foundation upon which
she built her life She often reminisced of the earlier teachings of her
childhood and their importance to her life When she completed the
tenth grade she decided to pursue a career in teaching She taught at
Piney Grove School for two (2) years and at Hopewell School for one
(1) year This experience spurred a yearning for additional education
so she resigned from teaching and attended school for an additional
year to complete the eleventh grade and graduate from high school
After graduation, she again taught school for another one and a half
years at Ashpole Center School located in the Ashpole Community
Her teaching experience created a yearning for a better life During her
teepage years, Sally Helen Hatcher. Velma's mother, fell ill to terminal
cancer. Velma spent a great deal of time caring for her sick mother
She developed an interest in nursing and often discussed her interest
with the doctor as he made regular home visits.
In February 1931, she again resigned from teaching, and with the
assistance of the doctor who attended her mother, she enrolled in the
School of Nursing at Philadelphia General Hospital in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania She quickly learned that it was not easy to obtain the
goal (hat she had set for herself as she had to become accustomed to
a new faster pace in life and the studs of material to which she had not
previously been exposed Upon graduation in f934. she was ottered
a position within the training hospital as the Supervisors Registered
Nurse in charge of the sixth floor She held this position for five (5)
years resigning in 1939
In 1939, V'elma Lowry was contacted by the Office of the Governor
of North Carolina and offered a position to work with the Farm Security
Administration She accepted this position, and in August 1939.
she returned to Pembroke, North Carolina to work as a Project Nurse
with the Farm Security Administration Program located in Rockingham.
North Carolina in the same location as the current Richmond Counts
Office Building downtown Rockingham She w orked with a Dr Green
who helped with the administration of the program The position
required svorking with ruraj families in designated areas of Richmond.Scotland,
and Robeson Counties providing in-home indiv idual and
group health educational advice including healthy nutrition, inoculations.
general health education services and helping with delivers of
newborns Through this program she helped numerous families who
still today remember the program and her services in the Evans Crossmg.
Beulah Baptist Church, and the Red Bank communities The program
helped willing people purchase farmland and housing for their
families. There are some well-known families in Robeson Counts who
today continue to prosper from the efforts of this program
On March 14, 1941, Velma Lowry married Jimmy Mavnor and began
a family in 1943 She resigned her position as a nurse and became a
homemaker To this marriage were born three children Roxanna Kay.
James Robert, and John Timothy Maynor She held the same moral
values and respect for education as those she experience from her
own family She desired that her children know the word of God and
obtain a sound education She prepared daily for the activities of
family life She would prepare the food, help with homework, sew.
knit, crochet, and attend to Bible reading and church activities She
remained at home for approximately 9 years However, neighbors,
acquaintances, and family members would often come and request
that she visit their home and help with homebound individuals or
maybe they only had a " What would you do0" question. She readily
gave assistance with bandaged dressings, home 1 Vs. and other home
nursing care activities.
In 1952 another job offer came and she was offered a position at the
North Carolina Cancer Institute located on Hwy 711 Lumberton, North
Carolina. She became elated with the idea of practicing again, and
with much thought returned to work on the eleven to seven shift in
order to continue with her responsibilities at home and church She
became the nurse in charge for the midnight shift and maintained this
position for fourteen and one half years The midnight shift allowed
her to sleep while the children were in school, to be available during
the day lot appointments and school activities, and to participate in
Sunday and weeknight church activities She maintained this schedule
missing very tew church activities and never missed Sunday morning
church service ("or the fourteen and one half years
In 1060. Vehna Lowry May nor resigned from the N C Cancer Institute
and accepted a position with the Robeson County Board of
Education as a school nurse She was one of three new nurses hired
to work within the schools of Robeson County This position was a
welcomed opportunity to work during the day and rest at night She
enjoyed tins position until her'retirement in 1973 at the age of sixtylive
After her short retirement of little more than a year, the North Carolina
Department of Corrections began employing nurses to assist the
assigned doctors and to dispense medications based on the doctor's
orders Again she answered the call and took a position at the Robeson
County Correctional Institute She was the first nurse hired at
the Robeson County Prison Unit on Hwy 711 under the North Carolina
Department of Corrections She returned to work in 1976 and
thoroughly enjoyed her work with Dr, Arthur A Robinson, the medical
doctor for the Robeson County Prison Unit After ten years, she
again resigned in June 1985 and retired at the age of 78
After this retirement. Y'elnta Lowry Maynor visited the sick. read,
knitted, sewed, crocheted, made jewelry and worked in her yard She
loved to knit or crochet and teach others the craft At one point she
serv ed as an instructor for a knitting class through continuing education
classes of Robeson Community College Ladies would gather in
her home and she would help them solve their knitting problems or
instruct them in starting new patterns She was known to knit and
crochet entire outfits and would always create a layette for a new
baby in the community or church.
In all of her work, chores and service, Velma Lowry Maynor's love
for the Lord was ever present When riding along in the car and
playing the Bible on the tape player, she could quote the scripture
w ord for word along with the tape It didn't matter which Bible book
was playing She was an intelligent and compassionate woman She
loved to read, talk with everyone, discuss the Bible, learn about his or
her descendants, and discuss the history of Robeson County and
her family She w as proud of the Henry Berry Lowrie history and the
fact that he was her great uncle She loved the Lowrie names She
insisted that her youngest great grandson be named James Allen
On November 18, 1997, much knowledge of history, compassion,
families and talents departed this earthly lite and a great servant who
loved God was called to claim her heavenly home
(This is the third offive life stories that will he published in honor
of the recipients of the Order of the Medicine Wheel Award us part
of the Millennium Warrior Honoring Ceremony sponsored by the
American Indian Mothers, Inc.)
Shown left to right are Beverly Collins-Hall, Director oj American
Indian Mothers, Inc. Dr. Ruth Dial Woods and Roxanna Kay
Maynor Bailey accepting the Medicine Wheel Award on behalf of
her mother, Velma Mac l.trwry Maynor.
Mrs. Vela Mae Lmvry Maynor in her nursing uniform
Mrs. May nor in later years
Public Info Office moved
to tribal offices
The Lumbee Tribe Public Information Office has moved to the main
tribal offices located at 707 Union Chapel Road in Pembroke North
Carolina You can reach any of the Public Information staff at
910 521 7861 Please direct all your inquiries to this office The Public
Information Office is at the service of the Tribal Membership to help
inform you of the day-to-day procedures of our tribal government as
well as the programs and services that we offer to our tribal members
Please do not hesitate to call our offices with your questions and
concerns. Our main motivation is to ensure that our tribal members
are given accurate and vital information about issues that directly
affect the Lumbee Tribe We welcome all inquiries
Wanda Locklear - ext 223--wlocklearf/}lumbeetribe com
Patrick Strickland - ext 247--pstricklandf?lumbectribe com
Rebekah Revels - ext 246?rrevelstftlumbeetribe com
LTG assumes management
of NC Housing apts.
The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina has officially assumed responsibility
for the management of the following housing units which
have been under the management of the North Carolina Housing
Authority Red Hill Apartments in Maxton. Hawkeye Sands Apartments
in Raeford, and Heritage Haven in Fairmont The Lumbee Tribe
is excited and hopeful about this new endeavor Please direct all
inquiries to the Public Information Office at 910 521 7861 of visit our
website at www lumbeetribe com (This article submitted by I.Td's
f*uhlic Information Office)
Call 910-521-0992
Subscribe to the
Carolina Indian Voice
Carolina Indian Voice
910-521-0992
BPW Week celebrated by
Pembroke BPW
The Pembroke Business and Professional Women's Organization
celebrated BPW week in October as they promoted equity for women
across the nation BPW member Sherry Lynn Odom was selected as
"Woman of the Year" for her devotion and dedication to the organization
v
Other events for the celebration included honoring Clerk ofCourt.
Rene Oxendine Hunt during her candidacy at the home of Or Ruth
Dial Woods and Noah Woods, visiting Pembroke First United Methodist
Church in Sunday, and providing cake and ice cream for senior
citizens Yvonne Barnes Dial, District V director, spoke at the monthly
meeting
Attorney Dale Deese from Legal Services was the guest speaker for
"the month of September
Anyone interested in learning more about the organization may
contact Marie Moore at 521 -4421 or 521-9731
SRMC adds full time
emergency room physicians
The Emergency Services department at Southeastern Regional
Medical Center has added several full-time physicians over the past
few months Jim R Clearv M D . and A Michael Skinner. D O . are
among the new medical staff additions
Dr Clearv is a I 062 graduate of Wake Forest University School of
Medicine, formerly known as Bowman Gray, in Winston-Salem He
had further training at the University of Washington in Seattle and
completed his residencv at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in
Washington. D C He is certified by the American Board of F.ntergency
Medicine
Dr Skinner earned his medical degree in 2000 from the University
of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City.
Mo I le completed an emergency medicine residency at the Pontine
Osteopathic Hospital Medical Center in Pontiac. Mi, in 2004
New phone numbers for
Carolina Indian Voice
Please make a note of the new phone numbers
for the Carolina Indian Voice.
910-521-0796
910-521-0992
910-521-9154
And the new fax number:
910-521-7670