We invite you to share in supporting the community initiatives and service goals of Golden SEEDS CDC. We have a reach history and have accomplished so much, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us. Your donation will make a difference! https://goldenseedscdc.org/support/
Gladys Dickerson BSN, RN
Gladys Dickerson, born in the Bottom, is recognized as the first and only African American Nurse Manager employed by the Dallas Veteran Affairs (VA) Emergency Room.
Her life in Oak Cliff included attending school at NW Harllee Elementary and Franklin D. Roosevelt High Schools. In 1972, she graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a Bachelor of Nursing, and immediately began her professional career at Parkland Hospital for five (5) years before joining the staff at the Dallas V. A. Medical Center. She later assumed the position of director of Home Care Services and retired after 35-years in Nursing.
She is the mother of four, and the grandmother of five amazing and gifted children, who also are major influencers in the Dallas Oak Cliff community.
Her professional recognitions include Excellent In-Home Care awards, Great 100 Nurse award, EEO State award for creating and teaching a GED program, and most notably, she addressed the United States Congress on behalf of Home Health Care for the VA Medical Center.
Ms. Dickerson has served her community in several capacities. She volunteered as Advisor for the Circle Ten Council Boy Scouts of America Explorer Post for 25 years, and had the largest Medical Post in Exploring History, amassing more than 100,000 volunteer hours. She also was a Boy Scouts of America board member and is currently the ministry leader of the Nurses Guild at Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church, in the Bottom. She is also the Dean of memberships of Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc. Professional Nursing Sorority.
The History of The Bottom
The stretch of land, known today as Oak Cliff, was originally established when William H. Hord, a Tennessee native and slave owner settled this area on January 12, 1845. The 640 acres of high oak-shaded land would be first known as Hord’s Ridge. When the news of slavery’s end finally reached Texas in 1865, 10 acres of this land were deeded to former slaves on Hord’s Ridge, establishing the first Freed-men’s Town. The City of Oak Cliff was incorporated in 1890, and along with this area known as The Bottom was finally incorporated into the City of Dallas in 1903.
Much of the remaining vacant and flood-prone land of The Bottom was developed in smaller residential lots as the area continued to grow and development into a self-sufficient community, much the same way as other African American communities of the time. Small shot-gun houses were constructed to house the growing community and everyday needs were met nearby by a vibrant commercial district and family-owned businesses. The community’s spiritual, social and economic needs were met by several churches, including the Former Shiloh Baptist Church (now Living Waters), Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church and True Purpose Missionary Baptist Church. All these churches are still serving the community to this day.
We invite you to share in supporting the community initiatives and service goals of Golden SEEDS CDC. We have a reach history and have accomplished so much, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us. Your donation will make a difference! https://goldenseedscdc.org/support/