Katherine Detherage

Dr. Detherage, a legendary nurse, nurse educator, and leader transitioned from her
earthly life unexpectedly on Thursday, April 13. 2023 at 83 years of age. Katherine
Bernice Smith was born in Sleepy Hollow, Kentucky to Joseph Barney Smith, Sr. and
Virginia Dorsey Smith. She was the youngest of four children to their union: Joseph
B. Smith, Jr., Dorothy S. Dowe, and Milton H. Smith. In 1960, she married James M.
Detherage and to that union were born Kimberly L. Detherage, James M. Detherage,
Jr. and Kevin J. Detherage.
In her early years, she attended Brownsboro Elementary School, Lagrange Training
School, Pewee Valley Elementary School and Forest Elementary School in
Berrytown, KY. She graduated valedictorian from Lincoln Institute, class of 1956 at
the age of 16. Dr. Detherage was a graduate of St. Joseph's Infirmary School of
Nursing, Spalding College School of Nursing in Louisville, Kentucky, The University
of Kentucky in Lexington, where she earned her Master's Degree in Nursing. At
these three schools she was the first person of African descent to be admitted and
graduate. She earned her Ph.D. at Boston College.
Dr. Detherage began her nursing career at St. Joseph's Infirmary as a nurse and then
as an instructor for many years. In 1967, she was one of the first faculty members at
Jefferson Community College. (She taught Aunt Dot, and Aunt Margaret). She then
went on to be an Assistant Professor at the University of Louisville School of Nursing
where she was one of several persons who were tasked to begin the Nursing
program at the University of Louisville. She loved Nursing, she loved teaching and
believed that education was important. She wanted students of African descent to
excel in nursing and often had students at her home tutoring them. In 1973, the
family moved to Massachusetts and Dr. Detherage became an Assistant Professor at
Boston College.
Dr. Detherage moved to Rochester, NY as a Robert Wood Johnson Fellow at the
University of Rochester School of Nursing in 1980. After completing her Fellowship,
she joined the faculty at the University of Rochester, and later served as the Vice
President of Nursing Practice at The Anthony Jordan Health Center, Adjunct
Professor at SUNY Brockport, Chairperson of the Nursing Departments at St. John
Fisher College, and Nazareth College. She served Nazareth College with distinction
until retirement. While there, she served as the Principal Investigator of a HRSA
funded grant entitled, "WE CARE" (Welcoming Everyone to Culturally Appropriate
RN Education), a program to recruit underrepresented nursing students. She
received the College's Civic Engagement Award for outstanding volunteer service,
April 2009, and served as Principal Investigator of a HRSA funded grant entitled,
"WE CARE" (Welcoming Everyone to Culturally Appropriate RN Education.
Dr. Detherage excelled in various capacities. She received numerous awards
throughout her career. One award that held special meaning as an African American
was the "Fabulous 5" honoring by the University of Kentucky. In 2020, she was
honored as one of the Fabulous Five graduates of the University of Kentucky School
of Nursing and first African American graduate with a Master's of Nursing as a trail
blazer effecting change in nursing and racial equality. In honor of the legacy of the
"Fab 5" a commemorative art display was permanently installed on the 3 rd floor of
the School of Nursing at the University of Kentucky.
She was the first and to date, the only African American President of the Genesee
Valley Nurses Association. She was a member of Sigma Theta Tau International,
Honor Society in Nursing, Delta Kappa Gamma, a society for key nursing educators,
and Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. (CEP), where she served in leadership roles for Beta
Chi Chi, Inc., the local chapter, and the Northeast Region. She has served on the
Boards of Directors of the Catholic Family Center, the only nurse on the Rochester
Health Commission, the McCree McCuller Wellness Center, St. Joseph's
Neighborhood Center, the Regional Review Council of the Finger Lakes Health
Systems Agency, and the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network. The Rochester
Community will miss her sweet, kind, gentle leadership, her, impeccable
coordination and planning skills, her patience and unyielding support.
Dr. Detherage, loved God, her family, people and culture. She was an avid reader,
scrabble player and loved to do the New York Times crossword puzzle every day
and did so, up until several days before her death. She was a world traveler, patron
of the arts -season tickets to the theatre, Actors theater in Louisville and GEVA in
Rochester. She loved being with her children. She supported all of their activities
and attended every event. She was proud of all of their accomplishments and
always ready to tell someone about them. She was a loving and kind woman who
always had a willing listening ear. She taught her children, the importance of
learning, to be your best, to treat others with respect and dignity, that dreams were
possible and to let no one deter you from your goals. Her favorite flowers were
daises and lilacs.
Dr. Detherage, leaves to mourn her passing, her husband, James M. Detherage,
daughter Rev. Kimberly L. Detherage, Esq., East Elmhurst, NY; sons James M.
Detherage, Jr. (Ginger), Washington, DC, The Honorable Judge Kevin J. Detherage,
Sanford, Florida, brother Milton H. Smith (Mary Catherine), four grandchildren Jose,
Jillian, Justin, and Madison, dear friends and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and
dear friends.
Homegoing Services:
Friday, April 28, 2023, 6 – 8pm Visitation: A.D. Porter & Sons Funeral Home, 1300
W. Chestnut St., Louisville, Kentucky
Saturday, April 29, 2023, Wake: 10am - 12noon, Funeral: 12 noon, Repast to follow,
7435 Brownsboro Baptist Church, Rev. Augustus Prentice, Pastor. Eulogist Minister
Judith Smith Malone, Highway 329, Crestwood, Kentucky
Memorial Service:
June 3, 2023, Rochester, NY: Agape Fellowship United Methodist Church, Rev.
Marlowe Washington, Pastor. 121 Scholfield Road, Irondequoit, NY 14617.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that you consider making a donation for a
Nursing Scholarship to be established in Dr. Detherage's name honoring a student of
African descent in Rochester and Kentucky.
Condolences may be sent to: The Detherage Family c/o Kimberly L. Detherage, 24-
02 Ericsson St., East Elmhurst, NY. 11369 https://evt.live/remembering-dr-katherine-detherage