Dr. Annie Louise Wilkerson

Dr. Annie Louise Wilkerson, of 11408 Raven Ridge Rd., died Thursday September 15, 2005. Dr. Wilkerson was the daughter of the late Dr. Charles B. Wilkerson, Sr. and Annie Royal Farthing.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Josephine Wilkerson Kirk and Margaret Wilkerson Barnes; her brothers, Dr. Charles B. Wilkerson, Jr. who practiced internal medicine in Raleigh from 1950-1983 and Dr. Louis R. Wilkerson, Sr. who practiced obstetrics and gynecology with Dr. Annie from 1956 until they retired together in 1993; her niece Margaret Wilkerson Flint Brown and nephew Charles William Wilkerson.
Dr. Annie was born January 18, 1914 in Apex, NC and moved to Raleigh with her family in 1920. She was a graduate of Hugh Morson High School in Raleigh; attended Duke University; received her B.S. in Medicine from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and her M.D. from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, VA.
Dr. Wilkerson was the first woman to complete her internship and residency at Rex Hospital where she served on the active staff until her retirement in 1993 and remained on the honorary staff until her death. She began her private practice of obstetrics and gynecology with her father in 1940 and practiced in Raleigh until her retirement from Wilkerson Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Annie opened Wake County Medical Center as its first Chief of Staff in 1961-1962, and remained on the staff until her death.
She represented her community by serving on various civic boards and committees including: the United Way, American Cancer Society, the YWCA, the Women's Club of Raleigh, the Junior League of Raleigh, Carolina Country Club, Hospice of Wake County, and the Red Sword Guild. She has served on the Board of Visitors at Peace College and was alifetime member of Edenton Street United Methodist Church, where she served on the Administrative Board.
Dr. Annie received many honors and awards. She was named Tar Heel of the Week in January of 1961 and October of 1995; received the first Distinguished Physician of Merit Award from Rex Hospital in 1995, received the Alumni Distinguished Service Award from University of North Carolina School of Medicine in 1997 and was named the Outstanding Medical Alumna from the Medical College of Virginia in 1998. Dr. Wilkerson received the Community Health Hero award from the Rex Cancer Center in June 2005 and on September 8, 2005 was inducted into the City of Raleigh Hall of Fame. She was honored by Peace College with the naming of the Dr. Annie Louise Wilkerson Advanced Biology and General Physics Lab in July of 2005.
Survivors include: her sisters-in-law, Mrs. Charles B. Wilkerson, Jr. of Raleigh and Mrs. Louis R. Wilkerson of Raleigh; beloved family friend, Aida Epps; her nieces and nephews, Dr. Mary Susan Kirk Fulghum of Raleigh, Charles Sidney Louis Kirk of Raleigh, Sam A. Flint, Jr. of Wilmington, Annie Louise Flint Penland of Hampstead, Beth Wilkerson Jones of Raleigh, Louise Wilkerson Wells of Raleigh, Carol Wilkerson Sheltonof Raleigh, Louis R. Wilkerson, Jr. of Raleigh, Martha Wilkerson Roberts of Raleigh, and numerous great-nieces and nephews.
Dr. Annie's family will receive friends on Saturday, September 17th from 2 - 6 p.m. in Kerr Fellowship Hall at Edenton Street United Methodist Church, 228 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh, N.C.
Funeral Service will be held 3 p.m. Sunday September 18th at Edenton Street United Methodist Church. Graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Monday September 19th at Historic Oakwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Dr. Annie requested that memorial contributions be made to: Edenton Street United Methodist Church Endowment Fund, 228 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh, N.C. 27603; Wake County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, 620 W. Morgan St., Raleigh, N.C. 27603; Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education, 224 Sunnybrook Rd, Raleigh, N.C. 27610; Hospice of Wake County, 1300 St. Mary's St., Raleigh, N.C. 27605; or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Arrangements byMassey Funeral Home, Zebulon, 919-269-6600.