A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Almeda Golson, D.C., was celebrated Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at the Seton Residence Chapel in Evansville, Ind.; burial followed at St. Joseph Cemetery, Evansville. Sister Almeda died August 17, 2019, at Seton Residence, Evansville. Sister was 87 years of age and 54 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born July 12, 1932, in Prattville, Ala., Sister Almeda (baptized Afton Louise) was one of 10 children born to Grady Everette and Sara Virginia (Roy) Golson. Sister Almeda was a 1950 graduate of Autauga County High School, Prattville, Ala. In 1969, she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in
Nursing at Marillac College, St. Louis, Mo. Sister Almeda earned two Master’s degrees from the University of Alabama in Birmingham: Hospital and Health Administration (1977), and Counseling (1999). Sister Almeda also studied the French language at the Alliance Française in Paris, France.
Sister Almeda entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis from St. Dominic’s Parish, New Orleans, La., in June 1965. Following initial formation, Sister Almeda pursued her Nurse’s training at Marillac College, St. Louis, Mo., (1966 to 1967); then, was missioned to St. Vincent Hospital & Health Services, Indianapolis, Ind., (1967 to 1968) to complete her internship. After receiving her degree from Marillac College in 1969, Sister Almeda served as Director of Nursing Services for 12 years at the following hospitals: St. Margaret Hospital, Montgomery, Ala., (1969 to 1975); St. Vincent Hospital, Birmingham, Ala., (1975 to 1976); and Saint Thomas Hospital, Nashville, Tenn., (1976 to 1977). Sister Almeda returned in 1977 to St. Vincent Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., to serve as Assistant Administrator (1977 to 1978) and continued in that role at Regina Continuing Care Center, Evansville, Ind., (1978 to 1980). Sister Almeda returned to St. Margaret Hospital in Montgomery, Ala., to serve as Administrator (1980 to 1985); then, she served as Administrator at St. Vincent Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., (1985 to 1987). For two years (1987 to 1989), Sister Almeda served as a full-time Board Chair at St. Margaret Hospital in Montgomery, Ala.; then, she returned to Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville to serve as Administrator (1989 to 1995). In 1995, Sister Almeda was missioned to St. Vincent Hospital, Birmingham, Ala., (1995 to 2008) where she served as a full-time Board Chair. In 2008, Sister Almeda was missioned to Seton Residence, Evansville, Ind., where she served in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.
Sister Almeda twice served as Board Chair and Local Community Superior in Alabama: at St. Margaret Hospital in Montgomery (Chair: 1987 to 1989, Local Community Superior: 1988 to 1989), and at St. Vincent Hospital in Birmingham (Chair: 1995 to 2008, Local Community Superior: 1999 to 2001).
Sister Almeda was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Shelly, Wesley, Mallory, Harry, Walter, and Grady Golson; and her sisters Vera Golson, Elizabeth Strange, and Jacqueline Price. She is survived by many nephews and nieces, including Laurie Virginia Swenson, Frances Lavon Williamson, and Michelle Washatka, and her Sisters in Community.