"Lena Lowe Jordan"(April 6,1884-September 30,1950)

Was an African-America registered nurse and hospital administrator who managed two institutions for African Americans-a hospitals for the care of crippled children,which later became a general hospital.In addition.she began a unique training program for young African American women who wanted to became practical nurses.Lena was born in Georgia,to Hollin and Martha.She spent her childhood in Georgia and then trained as a nurse at the Charity Hospital of Savannah.She moved to Little Rock from Cordele,Georgia,in the 1920s and began her career as a registered nurse in Arkansas as head nurse at the Mosaic State Templar's Hospital in 1927.In 1920,she began the second wife of Peach Jordan,and the couple had one daughter.Lena's husband was an official of the Mosaic Templar's fraternal organization,which was founded in Little Rock.In the 1930s,she was affiliated with the Arkansas Home and Hospital for crippled Negro children in Little Rock.She placed an article in the Arkansas Gazette in 1936 pleading for funds to pay mortgage to save the institution explaining that it was the only charity hospital for African American crippled children in the state.She placed a mortgage on her own home to obtain funds to operate the hospital.The date The date the institution became a general hospital for African American children is unclear,it was named the Lena Jordan Hospital by 1938.The Little Rock City Directory of that year lists the hospital at 1500 Pulaski.In 1943,the address was 16th and Chester,where the hospital remained until 1953.The Lena Jordan hospital was a twenty-bed hospital equipped for general surgery,medical,and obstetric care.It was open to all African-American patients,regardless of their ability to pay.Lena's philosophy was "The Lord Provides."The physicians who served on the staff,both African American and white,did so without pay for charity patients.Lena began an innovative program of training nurses for the hospital.She provided an opportunity for young women to work at the hospital and obtain a practical nurse's certificate for their work.She provided room and board,clothes,and a small salary.Some of the women went on to business school or college after training.She also cooperated with the Red Cross in providing a Home Nursing class in 1934.Lena was the instructor,and ninety-one African American earned certificates.A graduation ceremony was held at the first Baptist Church at 7th and Gaines streets in Little Rock.On May 12,1950,a special program was held at the hospital on National Hospital Day honoring Lena on the fortieth anniversary of her nursing career.The event coincided with the twenty-first anniversary of the institution.Lena spent thirty years of her career in Litlle Rock,providing care for the underserved African American community.