James Maxie Ponder (February 22, 1888 – March 4, 1958) was a physician and the first African-American admitted to practice at Mercy Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was regarded as an influential leader of the African American community in St. Petersburg. For his service in the US Army Medical Reserve Corps during World War I, Ponder received a Presidential Citation.
After graduating from medical school, Ponder started a practice out of his house in Ocala. The kitchen was used as an emergency operating room. Ernest Ponder recalls victims of accidents and gunfights would appear at their home all hours of the night, and his father would care for their wounds. Payment frequently came in the form of poultry, vegetables, and ham.[1]
In 1917, Ponder served in the Army Medical Reserve Corps. He was First Lieutenant in the 368th Infantry of the 92nd Infantry Division. Many of the soldiers he cared for suffered injuries from gassings. His unit saw action in the Vosges Mountains, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, and near Metz.[1] Ponder received a Presidential Citation for "meritorious service in the field of epidemic medicine." This experience would give him a background in handling the smallpox epidemic in St. Petersburg in the late 1920s.[2] He was honorably discharged on March 7, 1919.[1]
Following his service in World War I, Ponder returned to his home practice in Ocala. In 1924, he moved the family to St. Petersburg, Florida. It was here he was appointed assistant city physician. Ponder set up office in two rooms of a black-owned building, the Royal Express Bus Line. His practice was popular with thousands of African Americans who traveled to St. Petersburg to see him.[1]
In 1926, Ponder was appointed city physician for the underprivileged and African American community.[2]
He was the first African American admitted to practice at Mercy Hospital in St. Petersburg. He was responsible for the creation of Mercy's prenatal hospital wing, which served African Americans.[1][2]
As an influential leader of the African American community in St. Petersburg, Ponder held various leadership positions. He was the chairman of the Trustees for Black Schools in Pinellas County.[2] His duty was to help improve black schools. Ponder was also the first African American to be elected as an active member of the Pinellas County Medical Society; as well as the first African American in Southern States to be given extended membership in the National Council of World War Veterans. Ponder was chosen as state commander, and he was in charge of bringing African American veterans together in Florida. Ponder retired in 1951.[1]
Death
Ponder died on March 4, 1958 at Veterans Administration Hospital in Bay Pines, Florida. The cause of death was a heart attack. During his funeral, the flag at city hall was flown at half staff. A bronze plaque erected in his memory can be found in Bayfront Medical Center. He was survived by his widow, son, daughter, and three grandchildren.
Personal life
In 1917, Ponder married Fanny Ayer, a teacher. Their son Ernest was born on April 3, 1918. A graduate of Morehouse College, Ernest took over teaching duties for his mother's class at Gibbs High School when she was no longer able to teach due to poor health.[1][3] James and Fanny adopted a girl named Florine sometime during the 1920s.[1]
References
^ abcdefghiBuckley, Joann H.; Fisher, W. Douglas (2016). African American Doctors of World War I: The Lives of 104 Volunteers. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 175–176. ISBN978-1-4766-2317-7.
^ abcd"James Maxie Ponder". Bus to Destiny. Bus to Destiny. 1998. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
^Arsenault, Kathy (17 September 2001). (PDF). University of South Florida St. Petersburg: Digital Archive. University of South Florida St. Petersburg. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
Further reading
"Florida Veterans Name Race Man State Commander," (7 Dec 1929), Pittsburgh Courier, p. 2.
Scott, Emmett J. (1969), The American Negro in the World War, p. 141, Arno Press and the New York Times
Sweeney, W. Allison, (1919), History of the American Negro in the Great War, p. 207, Negro Universities Press.
Vihlen, Sally P. (1994), The Black Physicians in Florida, p. 60, University of Florida.
Vihlen, Sally P., "Dr. Noble Frisby, Interview," The Black Physician in Florida, p. 48.
Vihlen, Sally P. "Serving the Poorest, C. Calvin Smith," The Black Physician in Florida, p. 292.
Ward, Thomas J., (2003), Black Physicians in the Jim Crow South, p. 113, University of Arkansas Press.
Yesner, Thomas ed. and pub., (1940), Who's Who in Colored America, p. 419, New York.
External links
Mercy Hospital
March 04, 2023
james, maxie, ponder, february, 1888, march, 1958, physician, first, african, american, admitted, practice, mercy, hospital, petersburg, florida, regarded, influential, leader, african, american, community, petersburg, service, army, medical, reserve, corps, d. James Maxie Ponder February 22 1888 March 4 1958 was a physician and the first African American admitted to practice at Mercy Hospital in St Petersburg Florida He was regarded as an influential leader of the African American community in St Petersburg For his service in the US Army Medical Reserve Corps during World War I Ponder received a Presidential Citation James Maxie PonderBorn 1888 02 22 February 22 1888Jacksonville FloridaDiedMarch 4 1958 1958 03 04 aged 70 Bay Pines FloridaNationalityAmericanOccupationPhysicianYears active1915 1951Known forFirst Black physician in St Petersburg FloridaSpouseFanny nee Ayer Ponder 1917 1958 ChildrenErnest Ponder 1918 1998 Florine Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death 4 Personal life 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksEarly life EditPonder was born in Jacksonville Florida to William and Addie nee Williams Ponder He graduated from Howard Academy in Ocala and after attended Benedict College in Columbia South Carolina In 1915 he graduated from Meharry Medical College in Nashville Tennessee 1 Career EditAfter graduating from medical school Ponder started a practice out of his house in Ocala The kitchen was used as an emergency operating room Ernest Ponder recalls victims of accidents and gunfights would appear at their home all hours of the night and his father would care for their wounds Payment frequently came in the form of poultry vegetables and ham 1 In 1917 Ponder served in the Army Medical Reserve Corps He was First Lieutenant in the 368th Infantry of the 92nd Infantry Division Many of the soldiers he cared for suffered injuries from gassings His unit saw action in the Vosges Mountains the Meuse Argonne Offensive and near Metz 1 Ponder received a Presidential Citation for meritorious service in the field of epidemic medicine This experience would give him a background in handling the smallpox epidemic in St Petersburg in the late 1920s 2 He was honorably discharged on March 7 1919 1 Following his service in World War I Ponder returned to his home practice in Ocala In 1924 he moved the family to St Petersburg Florida It was here he was appointed assistant city physician Ponder set up office in two rooms of a black owned building the Royal Express Bus Line His practice was popular with thousands of African Americans who traveled to St Petersburg to see him 1 In 1926 Ponder was appointed city physician for the underprivileged and African American community 2 He was the first African American admitted to practice at Mercy Hospital in St Petersburg He was responsible for the creation of Mercy s prenatal hospital wing which served African Americans 1 2 As an influential leader of the African American community in St Petersburg Ponder held various leadership positions He was the chairman of the Trustees for Black Schools in Pinellas County 2 His duty was to help improve black schools Ponder was also the first African American to be elected as an active member of the Pinellas County Medical Society as well as the first African American in Southern States to be given extended membership in the National Council of World War Veterans Ponder was chosen as state commander and he was in charge of bringing African American veterans together in Florida Ponder retired in 1951 1 Death EditPonder died on March 4 1958 at Veterans Administration Hospital in Bay Pines Florida The cause of death was a heart attack During his funeral the flag at city hall was flown at half staff A bronze plaque erected in his memory can be found in Bayfront Medical Center He was survived by his widow son daughter and three grandchildren Personal life EditIn 1917 Ponder married Fanny Ayer a teacher Their son Ernest was born on April 3 1918 A graduate of Morehouse College Ernest took over teaching duties for his mother s class at Gibbs High School when she was no longer able to teach due to poor health 1 3 James and Fanny adopted a girl named Florine sometime during the 1920s 1 References Edit a b c d e f g h i Buckley Joann H Fisher W Douglas 2016 African American Doctors of World War I The Lives of 104 Volunteers Jefferson McFarland amp Company Inc pp 175 176 ISBN 978 1 4766 2317 7 a b c d James Maxie Ponder Bus to Destiny Bus to Destiny 1998 Retrieved 28 January 2016 Arsenault Kathy 17 September 2001 The Ernest Ayer Ponder Collection PDF University of South Florida St Petersburg Digital Archive University of South Florida St Petersburg Archived from the original PDF on 6 February 2016 Retrieved 28 January 2016 Further reading Edit Florida Veterans Name Race Man State Commander 7 Dec 1929 Pittsburgh Courier p 2 Scott Emmett J 1969 The American Negro in the World War p 141 Arno Press and the New York Times Sweeney W Allison 1919 History of the American Negro in the Great War p 207 Negro Universities Press Vihlen Sally P 1994 The Black Physicians in Florida p 60 University of Florida Vihlen Sally P Dr Noble Frisby Interview The Black Physician in Florida p 48 Vihlen Sally P Serving the Poorest C Calvin Smith The Black Physician in Florida p 292 Ward Thomas J 2003 Black Physicians in the Jim Crow South p 113 University of Arkansas Press Yesner Thomas ed and pub 1940 Who s Who in Colored America p 419 New York External links EditMercy Hospital Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Maxie Ponder amp oldid 1124254206, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
