Women at Work

OAKLAND — The original nursing team at Garrett County Memorial Hospital, now retired nurses, has joined forces to help the hospital develop a History Wall to be located on the first floor.

(Seated from left to right) Toni Eshleman, Elizabeth Teagarden, Phyllis Maffett, Mildred Dunbar, (and standing left to right) Martha Sanders, Norma Gnegy and Norma Hesen helped establish the precedent of quality care when they joined the hospital staff in the early 1950s. Most of them began working there right after graduating from nursing school.

Mary Louise Young, 1920-2016

Mary Louise Young was a long-time newspaper reporter, having begun her reporting career at the Cumberland News, Morning Edition 1944. The following obituary appeared in the June 8, 2016 edition of the Cumberland Times-News:

Mary Louise Young, 95, of Cumberland, passed away Monday, June 6, 2016, at the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center.

Bettyanne Bethea Twigg (1931-2021)

The following excerpt focuses upon the professional and scholarly achievements of Bettyanne Bethea Twigg. The full obituary can be found at the Scarpelli Funeral Home website link at https://www.scarpellifh.com/obituaries/Bettyanne-Bethea-Twigg?obId=23402633#/obituaryInfo

Thomas named to Daily Record's VIP List for 2012

CUMBERLAND — Courtney Thomas, executive director of the Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission, has been named to The Daily Record’s 2012 VIP List — Very Important Professionals Successful By 40 Awards.

Born in Westernport, Katherine was class valedictorian upon graduation from Bruce High School. She graduated from Potomac State College and West Virginia University and upon relocating back to the Cumberland area taught Algebra at Allegany High School from 1929 to 1932.
Between the years 1933 and 1973 she worked in the Industrial Relation Department of Celanese and in 1974 served as Director of the National Alliance of Businessmen.

Constance Jean Spates, 1937 - 2007

At a time when there were few women holding leadership positions in local hospital administration, Constance Spates can be considered a pioneer. Upon graduating from the Memorial Hospital (Cumberland) School of Nursing in 1958, Constance Spates began her career as a staff nurse at the Miner's Hospital in Frostburg. Over forty years later, in 1999, she retired from Memorial Hospital, now part of the Western Maryland Health System, with the title of Assistant Vice-President of Ambulatory Care/Outpatient Services.

Kimberly R. Shirer, Allegany County Tourism Director

Among her other achievements Kim Shirer served as Director of Tourism Programs for Allegany County. She was for many years one of the primary organizers of the annual Allegany-Garrett Legislative Reception and Breakfast held each year in Annapolis (also known as PACE, Positive Attitudes Change Everything). It is also worth noting that Kim Shirer was Southern Garrett (County) High School's first female drum major.

The following obituary is from the February 4, 2015 edition of the Cumberland Times-News

Business Women Planning Dinner In Early Spring

While women of Cumberland have always been active in business, no organization of business women was formed until May of 1926 when a Quota club was formed with Miss Mae Keller as president and with a membership of eighteen.

Colleen T. Peterson

Juanita M. Nightingale (1935-2016)

Juanita Nightingale was extremely active in nursing programs at local hospitals, public schools and at the health department. The following excerpts are from her obituary as it appeared on the April 3, 2016 edition of the Cumberland Times-News:

“Juanita Margaret Nightingale died Friday, April 1, 2016, at The Kensington surrounded by her husband and sons.