Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
People from across North Carolina gathered recently in Charlotte to celebrate the profound significance of the historic Good Samaritan Hospital, the first privately funded Black hospital in the state. Thanks to the persistence of Greensboro resident and physician Alvin Powell, the hospital’s enduring legacy is now permanently etched into the landscape for future generations to treasure and learn from.
Dr. Powell’s relentless efforts led to the May 28 dedication and unveiling of a Good Samaritan Hospital official state Highway Historical Marker. It stands on West Morehead Street in the Queen City, just a few blocks away from Bank of America Stadium (home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers) and near the site where the hospital once flourished. A private commemorative marker was placed near the location years ago, but this new state marker brings wider public recognition.
For Dr. Powell, the bold new sign with its traditional silver background and raised black lettering is the third historical marker he has championed under the auspices of the N.C. Highway Marker Equity Initiative, an organization he founded. All of the markers he has advocated reflect a medical theme, which hits close to home for Dr. Powell, a nephrologist (kidney specialist), who serves as the Medical Director at Triad Adult and Pediatric Medicine in Greensboro.
The first two historical markers are highly visible in Greensboro. The first, Simkins v. Cone, stands on North Elm Street adjacent to Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital and heralds the landmark 1963 federal appellate court decision that desegregated all United States hospitals. The second, dedicated in 2025 on McConnell Road and South Benbow Road, marks the site of the former L. Richardson Memorial Hospital. Opened in 1927, L. Richardson was Greensboro’s first modern hospital for African Americans and eventually became the last segregated hospital to close in North Carolina in 1994 (Southside Blvd. location). Today, the original L. Richardson building (on McConnell and S. Benbow) contains apartments. The hospital’s second location (Southside Blvd.) serves the community as an adult residential facility.
Dr. Powell’s inspiration for advocating for inclusive historical markers “evolved over the years by learning history, living in Greensboro, and working in a hospital (Moses Cone) where African American physicians successfully filed and won a 1963 landmark lawsuit which desegregated hospitals,” he said.
The unveiling ceremony occurred at Charlotte’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. Powell and clergy invoked the “serve others in need” message of the Bible’s Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). He chose the church to honor the Rev. Dr. Leonzo Lynch, Ebenezer’s senior pastor, whom Dr. Powell met last year while planning the Greensboro marker for L. Richardson Memorial Hospital. The church also holds deep historical roots as the birthplace of Rev. Lynch and his sister, former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.
During the program, Dr. Powell provided vital social and historical context for “Good Sam,” as the hospital was affectionately known. Projecting photos of the facility, he spoke on the oppressive, structural racism that historically precluded adequate medical care for African Americans, creating an urgent need for the hospital. From the pulpit, Dr. Powell asked any of the 100-plus attendees to stand if they were born at Good Sam. Among those who rose to their feet were two Greensboro residents: Dr. Vanessa Haygood and Norman Dickson.
Good Sam originally opened its doors in 1891, when the white congregation of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church sought to fund a hospital for underserved people regardless of race. The church’s current rector, the Rev. James Pierce, praised the founders who confronted the insurmountable ravages of the brutal Jim Crow era, compelling them to remain true to their mission to fund a dedicated hospital for colored people.
Dr. Powell noted that Good Sam served a “resilient African American community” for 70 years, operating a vital nursing school even through seasons of intense financial challenges. In 1961, the hospital changed ownership and continued operating as Charlotte Community Hospital until 1892. It was later converted into a senior living facility before ultimately closing in 1994, when the building was razed to make way for the Panthers’ football stadium.
