By Larry Tucker
She might be a small town girl, but through hard work and dedication, she returned to her roots and became a major fixture in healthcare in Wood County for more than four decades.
Dr. Beverly Waddleton has always been a beacon of hope, using her faith as a guide through four decades serving Quitman and Wood County’s health needs. “My faith has always been of great importance to me, and becoming a physician is my calling,” Waddleton noted.
Waddleton’s journey from her home in Quitman to rise through obstacles to becoming a successful physician has served as an inspiration to all who have met her. Her philosophy has always been, “Do what I can where I am at. We do what we can and hope it spreads out.”
A Solid Foundation
Waddleton credits her parents and brother as major influences in her life. Her father, Joe, was a Methodist minister, dairyman, and respected mechanic, while her mother, Evelyn, was a beautician. Her brother, Donald, is a Vietnam veteran. Her father was the first and only African-American to be elected as Mayor of Quitman.
“My parents were major influences in my life, as was my brother, Donald, who was injured in Vietnam, and going through what he did in his life has always been an influence,” Waddleton added.
Waddleton began her journey attending the all-black Clark School, which was located on the west side of Quitman prior to integration in 1965. She was in junior high school at that time.
Waddleton would experience “being the first” during her high school years. She became the first black student elected to the student council, class favorite, and in her senior year (1970) was named “Most Likely to Succeed” along with Norman Hicks, who also became a physician and returned home to serve the community.
She was active in local 4-H projects. Waddleton credits Wood County Agent Sue Knighton for guiding her to apply for and receive a full scholarship to Iowa State University. During that time, more than 20,000 students were attending the university, and only 200 were African-Americans.
While at Iowa State, Waddleton became a part of 12 friends who were very close. Those 12 ladies still meet regularly through the magic of Zoom calls. “They were all white ladies, but that just didn’t matter to us. Of the 12, we have doctors, lawyers, teachers, and other professionals. They were my friends then, and they still are today,” Waddleton commented.
Waddleton was a zoology major and had many science courses as part of her studies. Then she decided it was a good idea to take education courses also.
She had many learning experiences, and some not from studying and going to class. “I had a Polish roommate who taught me some things about ethnicity. We might say things like ‘Jap’ and she would say to me ‘How dare you.’ She explained to me that saying that was like calling her a ‘Pollock.’ I did not realize that because I had never been around Japanese people and did not know until then that it was a hurtful term. I sure learned a lot about other people during my time at Iowa State,” Waddleton explained.
Waddleton broke the mold during the continuous striving for civil and equal rights. “When I was at Iowa State, it might be days before I even saw another black person. Now that was culture shock!” she exclaimed. “Then after Iowa State, when I started teaching at South Oak Cliff in Dallas, it was a reverse culture shock.”
She also spent time in the business world at Kraft Foods in quality control.
The Journey to Becoming a Physician
After teaching at South Oak Cliff, Waddleton made the decision that would lead her back home to Quitman as a physician where she would serve her community for more than four decades.
She applied and was accepted to the Texas College of Osteopathic (TCOM) in Fort Worth. She was a pioneer in her field as she became the first African-American female to graduate from TCOM. She graduated in 1981 and served a year-long internship in the Hurst-Bedford area near Fort Worth.
True to her calling, Waddleton returned to Quitman to live the dream of serving her community, setting up her private practice on August 2, 1982, where she served for 22 years.
At the time of her return, Dr. Ben Merritt and Dr. Ron Daniels were the only doctors in Quitman. “When I started, Dr. Merritt and Dr. Daniels were taking care of the whole community. They alternated being on call on weekends for a long time. They needed someone to help out, and I was blessed to be able to come home,” Waddleton said.
“I was committed to serving my community. My parents were in Quitman, and I had already lived in the Metroplex and Iowa, so I was ready to move home. Dr. Merritt was so kind to me, and I could always go to him for any reason over the years.”
Waddleton reflected that early in her career it was more difficult to gain the female nurses’ respect than the male doctors. “Female nurses were not used to taking orders from another female,” she said. “As time went by, there were never any problems.
During her 22-year solo practice, Waddleton delivered more than 100 babies, employed 20 associates, and cared for families she had grown up knowing through her church, school, and community activities.
“Me being the first female, the first black physician, some people were a little skittish at first because I was something different,” Waddleton said. “The thing I enjoyed the most is the relationships I had with my patients and their families. That’s what I miss the most.”
She left private practice in 2005 and joined the clinic at East Texas Medical Center (ETMC). “Making this move allowed me to dedicate myself to my patients and not have to deal with the business side of having a practice.”
Waddleton was instrumental in building the ETMC facility, which has become UT Health Quitman where she has twice acted as the Chief of Staff.
Waddleton is retired now, but she has never slowed down. She continues to work on different boards and opportunities to share her experiences with others.
A Life-Changing Event
In the year 2000, Waddleton was diagnosed with breast cancer. She believes it changed her perspective by giving her more inner strength, compassion, and feelings for others because she has first-hand experience with chemotherapy and cancer surgery. “I realized every moment of our lives is so precious,” she commented. “Because I had it, I could help others who were going through it and be there for them.”
She emphasized homegrown talent is invested in health in the community. “As long as we can get physicians who will come here and stay here, healthcare will continue to be successful. We did have what I call the Hometown Dynasty. That would be myself, Norman Hicks, George Cathey, James Dopson, and Ricky Cameron. We have all had a vested interest in being here in our careers. The fact we were homegrown kept the hospital going.”
On to Retirement
Waddleton shows no sign of slowing down in retirement. She continues to maintain activity on various boards highlighting community health. She currently is on the Wood County Hospital District Board and the Andrews Center Board.
When asked about the condition of healthcare in Wood County at this time, Waddleton said, “I think we are in a good position. I do wonder what some of the budget changes are going to do. For example, if they cut Medicaid or Medicare, it will affect us in some ways that will affect reimbursements with this hospital. I hope none of those things will affect us where we are now.”
One of the organizations where she is active today is as Chairman of the Wesley Foundation at Tyler Junior College (TJC). The Wesley Foundation is a campus ministry of the United Methodist Church. “It’s important to me to keep the Wesley Foundation open and viable at TJC. The Wesley Foundation was my home away from home at Iowa State.”
Waddleton has been an important contributor to the mental health condition in Wood County, serving on the Andrews Center Board. The Andrews Center, located in Mineola, offers a range of services to support individuals facing mental health challenges. The center focuses on promoting wellness and recovery.
“Two years ago, Orval Lindsey got concerned about the health of school children with all the school shootings and suicides and wanted to do something about it. We had a meeting with administration, and they were open to bringing in counselors,” Waddleton said. “Since I was on the Andrews Center Board, I made the contact to see if they would bring counselors to the school. They started out two days a week with a counselor and a social worker. The staff or a teacher can refer a child to them for counseling. The hospital board agreed to pay the salaries, and the school picked up supplies and provided a room. This year we have gone to three days of service.”
Waddleton spoke of her hopes for the community. “I consider Quitman and the surrounding area my family. I would hope that we can develop an atmosphere where we all feel we are a loving family, and we will not allow divisiveness, hatred, ignorance, and selfishness to eat away at the core of humanity.”