South Carolina H 5106: Dr. Matilda A. Evans Day

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5106 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 05, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5106

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

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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This web page was last updated on February 05, 2026 at 10:57 AM