As residents of a senior community in Carrollton, Donna Dryer and Bobbie Redmon treasure the comforts and camaraderie of their daily lives. Before retiring, they spent many years working together at Parkland Health, and they have recently chosen to include Parkland in their estate plans.
More than 60 years ago, Donna and Bobbie crossed paths at Texas Woman’s University in Denton. Donna had left her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, to pursue a career in medicine. Bobbie, a native of Marshall, Texas, was inspired by her mother, a beloved local nurse, to follow a similar path.
“Everybody loved my mother,” Bobbie recalls. “I worked with her as a nurse’s aide the summer before college, which was such a neat deal.”
After completing their education and training, both women set their sights on Parkland, particularly the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Bobbie began her career there in 1961 as a staff nurse. Donna, however, found herself accepting a role on 7 East, Parkland’s isolation unit, while waiting for an opening in the nursery. “I thought it would be temporary,” Donna remembers. “But I fell in love with infectious diseases.”
Their careers flourished in different directions, but their shared commitment to excellence connected them throughout their time at Parkland. Bobbie rose through the ranks to oversee all nursing operations in labor and delivery, retiring in 2000. Donna, a trailblazer in infectious disease care, helped shape national standards and retired from Parkland in 1998 before officially stepping away from UT Southwestern two decades later.
“We did so much teaching and developed so many new procedures,” Donna said. “It was fun.”
Among the many memories they share, one stands out above all others: the day President John F. Kennedy was rushed to Parkland after being shot in Dealey Plaza. News spread quickly on November 22, 1963, after staff began hearing reports on the radio. Bobbie vividly remembers the moment: “Labor and Delivery was on the south side of the hospital at that time. We rushed to the back windows, and from there, we saw the ambulance arrive.”
Donna had been waiting for her shift on 7 East, overlooking Harry Hines Boulevard. “I saw the limousine pull in, and the first thing I noticed was Jackie Kennedy’s bright pink suit. My first thought was, ‘Oh my God, Jackie Kennedy is here to take a tour of Parkland, and we haven’t cleaned up yet!’ Moments later, we heard the devastating news: President Kennedy had been shot.”
These shared experiences forged an unshakable bond between Donna and Bobbie and deepened their commitment to the Parkland mission. Their fondest memories reflect why they have chosen to give back to the hospital through their estate plans. “We’ve seen so much at Parkland,” Donna says. “How could we not feel an affinity for ensuring its future?”
“Parkland is a place where anyone can walk in and receive care—no matter who they are or what they have. That’s what makes it special,” Bobby agreed.
“And that care is delivered with compassion and excellence,” Donna concluded.
Together, they ensure Parkland’s legacy will continue, just as their own friendship has endured across the decades.
Learn more about how to include Parkland in your estate plans.