For most of her life, Martha Mann knew she wanted to be a nurse. In 1947, her dream came true. After attending college in Red Springs for two years, Martha entered Nursing Training at Rex Hospital. It was during her time as a nurse at Rex that Martha met her husband, Louis, by a chance encounter while he was a patient. The story goes, Martha was a nurse tending to Louis after a serious accident. One day while she was in his room, she dropped a bottle of Ajax and it rolled under the bed. As she was under the bed retrieving her Ajax, the preacher came in to talk to Louis. While she was under there she said she learned all about her patient, Louis Smith. “I wasn’t hiding under there,” she said, “I was just trying to get my Ajax back.” The rest, as they say is history, and after graduating in 1950, Martha Mann became Mrs. Marth Mann Smith.
During her time at Rex, Martha also worked as Head Nurse in the Labor and Delivery unit until Louis’ work took them to Honduras. While in Honduras, Martha assisted in the delivery of children and helped with the medical needs of those in their village. At that time, the village did not have a doctor, so Martha’s caring heart and skills were an added blessing.
After returning to North Carolina in 1957, Martha, Louis and their infant daughter settled down and this is where they would stay. Martha and Louis began building their family business of surveying, mapping and real estate, but Martha’s devotion to nursing never wavered.
After her husband’s death in 2008, Mrs. Smith endowed the Louis C. and Martha Ruth Smith Endowed Nursing Scholarship. This scholarship provides financial help to students with the many expenses that go along with becoming a nurse. As of July, 2016 the total estimated cost for an in-state student to receive an associate’s degree in nursing at Wake Tech was approximately $14,000. Of course, this amount can vary but just imagine how much a scholarship means to someone whose goal is to do nothing more than help others. That is what the Louis C. and Martha Ruth Smith Scholarship has done for so many.
Mrs. Smith wasn’t going to stop there. In March of this year, Mrs. Smith made it clear to all how important nursing and nurses are to her. Over the next several years, Mrs. Smith will donate $1 million to the Wake Tech Nursing program. One of the largest donations the school has seen, this is so much more than just money in the bank. This is a statement and testament to the importance of nursing. This is an opportunity for the nursing program to provide additional scholarships, help with faculty pay and provide new technology.
As the nation faces a nursing shortage, this gift means more than ever before. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the US is projected to experience a shortage of RNs that is going to intensify as the Baby Boom generation ages and the need for healthcare grows. Mrs. Smith’s generous gift can insure that nurses in this area are getting the most up to date knowledge and experience available. As a matter of fact, Wake Tech is now the only technical college in the state to have a nursing school. Named after its benefactor, the 2018 graduating class of the Martha Mann Smith School of Nursing received their pins and diplomas on May 4th.
During a dedication ceremony that took place prior to graduation, members of the Wake Tech Foundation, nurses, staff, students and community were able to personally thank Mrs. Smith for her generosity and contribution to the nursing program. Mrs. Smith sat quietly in the front of the room as one after another, stories were shared of her caring spirit, devotion to others and her love for her beloved Louis. Several speakers, including her son-in-law, mentioned how proud Louis would be of his beloved wife’s generosity and thoughtfulness. Many of the speakers, including Wake Tech President, Dr. Stephen Scott, praised Mrs. Smith for her “vision for the need for better healthcare,” and about the countless number of nurses and patients her gift would benefit.
As long-time friends and strangers alike lined up to personally thank Mrs. Smith, she greeted each one with a handshake, hug and a smile, simply telling each one how much she appreciated what they were doing to help others. Truly an inspirational woman, Mrs. Smith believes that when you are blessed with resources, you are supposed to give to others, and she has done that in so many ways.
