House: McDaniel

Attorney: Anderson

Drafting Assistant: Rogers

Date: February 04, 2026

DOC. ID.: /LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL/HA/DRAFTS/LC-0274HA-RM26/LC-0274HA-RM26.DOCX

 

 

A house RESOLUTION

 

TO COMMEMORATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. MATILDA A. EVANS, A PIONEERING PHYSICIAN, HUMANITARIAN, AND ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, AND TO DECLARE MAY 18, 2026, AS "DR. MATILDA A. EVANS DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to honor the memory of Dr. Matilda Arabella Evans, a trailblazer in the medical field and a devoted servant to the people of South Carolina; and

 

Whereas, the daughter of Anderson and Harriet Evans, Dr. Evans was born on May 13, 1872, in Aiken County, South Carolina, where her early drive for education and service began to take root; and

 

Whereas, after attending the Schofield Normal and Industrial School in Aiken, she pursued higher education at Oberlin College in Ohio and earned her medical degree from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1897; and

 

Whereas, Dr. Evans received her license to practice medicine in 1897, officially becoming the first African American woman licensed to practice in the State of South Carolina, shattering barriers and dedicating her life to the health and wellness of underserved communities; and

 

Whereas, recognizing the desperate need for healthcare facilities for African Americans, she founded the Taylor Lane Hospital and Training School for Nurses in Columbia, the first Black-owned hospital in the city, as well as St. Luke's Hospital and Evans Sanatorium; and

 

Whereas, Dr. Evans was a tireless advocate for public health, establishing the Negro Health Association of South Carolina, founding the Columbia Clinic Association which provided free medical care to thousands of children, and serving as president of the Palmetto State Medical Society, a position which was not only a first for this State but also the first African American woman to have occupied such a position in the United States; and

 

Whereas, her compassion extended far beyond her professional practice into her personal life. Though she never married, she created a loving home, adopting six children, John, Mattie, Gretchen, Myrtle, Edward, and Sydney, and raised and educated many others; and

 

Whereas, the inspirational story of Dr. Evans and her remarkable journey has been chronicled in the book South Carolina's Matilda Evans: A Medical Pioneer, co-authored by Dr. Walter B. Curry Jr., Anusha Ghosh, and Beverly Aiken Muhammad, with a foreword by Dr. Bobby Donaldson, ensuring that her legacy continues to educate and inspire future generations; and

 

Whereas, the Dr. Matilda Evans Educational Foundation actively works to preserve her memory and continue her lifelong commitment to education, health equity, and community service; and

 

Whereas, Dr. Evans' life was a testament to the power of resilience, generosity, and community service, and it is fitting that a day be set aside to honor her many contributions. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Matilda A. Evans, a pioneering physician, humanitarian, and advocate for public health, and declare May 18, 2026, as "Dr. Matilda A. Evans Day" in South Carolina.

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