MIDWIFE LIZZIE BELL WARD WILSON FOUNDATION was founded in 2014 by concerned citizens of the West Georgia Area who recognized the importance of her presence during her era.  She was born December 4, 1878, and was a midwife from 1903 until 1963 when she retired for the second time.   Delivering babies before, during and after World War I and World War II, she delivered thousands upon thousands of babies.  People would come from Polk County (her husband home area), and from Alabama (where she was born), also Atlanta (where her oldest grandchild worked)  and from all over Carroll, Douglas, and Paulding Counties to get her to deliver their babies.  She was known as  “Ma Bell”, “ Mrs. Bell” , Mrs. Wilson”, and the babies she delivered have come to be known as the “Bell Babies”.   We also have submitted a proposal to get a Commemorative Stamp honoring midwifery.

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Midwife Lizzie Bell Wilson "caught an estimated 3000 babies" in the greater West Georgia area from 1903 to 1963.  She delivered babies and assisted moms throughout pregnancy from Atlanta to just beyond the newly established Alabama line.  She was born in Milltown, Alabama.  She states after getting married, she moved to Carroll County in Georgia and became a Midwife.  She delivered her last "Bell baby", a great-grandson in 1963, and passed to glory in 1964.  Fifty years later, her descendants and other Bell babies held a memorial celebration.  The city of Villa Rica and the Historical Society participated.  There was a parade and fellowship meal.  The highlight was the reveal of the monument erected at her gravesite.  From so many donations, the  Midwife Lizzie Bell Wilson Foundation was officially established as a 501c3 nonprofit organization.   The Foundation started trying to get a stamp honoring midwifery and now will celebrate the Tenth Year at the Annual in November 2, 2024.   The scholarship gifts were an outgrowth of the Foundation's concern for the very high maternal mortality rate.  Listed below are our present objectives

 

Objectives of the Midwife Lizzie Bell Wilson Foundation

·        Midwifery Stamps

·        Increase awareness of preventive measures to reduce maternal mortality

·        Dedicate funds to award scholarships to deserving midwifery students

·        Work to publicize and increase awareness about midwifery care

·        Identify legislative and administrative barriers to midwifery care

·        Find more Bell Babies

·        Encourage and Support Midwifery Initiatives

·        Recognize Excellence Exemplified in key areas which reflect Ma Bell’s Character

·         Yearly Banquet to Raise Funds and Award Excellence 

 

Midwifery is what the Midwife Lizzie Bell Foundation is all about.

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Board Members:

Linda Mason

Linda McDaniel

Pennie Kirk

Frances Sexton

Tandra Hudson

H Marie Hudson