Maymie Bryant Proctor was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 10, 1927. She was the oldest daughter and second born of six children of the late Quincy Bryant and Laura Hullum Bryant. Maymie and her siblings were raised in Racine, Wisconsin by her father due to the loss of her mother at age 11. The Bryant family were members of Racine’s Wayman A.M.E. Church.
Upon graduating from Washington Park High School, Maymie attended Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) where she earned the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Her time in Alabama was her first experience of segregation, a practice foreign to her prior to that. Upon graduation, she returned to Wisconsin and worked as the first African American registered nurse in Racine. Soon after, she moved to Washington, DC and worked at Freedman’s Hospital. While living there, she met and married the late Dr. Oliver W. Proctor in 1954.
In 1955, upon Oliver’s completion of dental school, the couple relocated to Norfolk, Virginia. Maymie joined the Proctor family church Bank Street Memorial Baptist in 1957. At Bank Street, she was active on the usher board, with the Boosters, Golden Heirs, Food Pantry, and several other committees. She especially enjoyed Organ and Tissue Donation & Transplant Community Education. In 2006, Maymie was consecrated as deaconess.
Maymie’s educational and professional accomplishments included a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Norfolk State University, a Master of Science degree in Nursing from Hampton University, and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Hampton University. She served as a faculty member in the Hampton University School of Nursing from 1972-1992. Honors included the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award and Professor Emeritus.
Community Service was Maymie’s passion. A few of her service activities included YWCA Shelter for Battered Women volunteer, Norfolk Planning Council board member, Norfolk YWCA board member, Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast Board of Directors member, Life Net Health volunteer, and Lions Medical Eye Bank of Eastern Virginia volunteer. Her organizational affiliations included Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; she was an active member of the Norfolk Alumnae Chapter beyond the age of 90. Maymie was president of Norfolk State University’s charter line in 1962. Other affiliations included The Links, Incorporated, The Moles, Incorporated, and The Norfolk Kiski Club.
For the last 12 years, Maymie resided at Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay in Virginia Beach, Virginia. For the first 10 years, she was completely independent and enjoyed Tai Chi classes on the beach, the Health and Wellness Committee, Knitting Group, Evening with the Professor program, the arts, hospice volunteer, and many new friends.
Maymie is survived by her daughters Glenda Proctor and Valerie Proctor Greene; step-daughter Dr. Rosalyn Proctor Riggs; daughter-in-law Dr. Sandra Proctor; grandchildren Myra Ceusters, Kimberle Searcy, Oliver Herbert Greene, Vivian Proctor Greene, and Lauren Nicole Belcher; great grandchildren Steadman and Coleman Searcy, and Remi and Rohan Ceusters; sister Emily Barrett; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and loving, supportive friends.