Gwendolyn Esters, an American Red Cross volunteer and accomplished obstetrics and gynecology nurse, devoted more than two decades to improving family health across Los Angeles as a Red Cross instructor. Her nursing expertise and compassionate leadership helped strengthen countless families and earned her some of the organization’s highest volunteer honors. (Photos courtesy of Frederick Esters).
Saida Pagain/American Red Cross
As our nation marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, the life and legacy of Gwendolyn Esters stand as a powerful example of how African American nurses and volunteers have shaped healthier, more resilient communities for generations.
When Esters, a pioneering African American nurse, health educator and multi-award-winning American Red Cross volunteer, passed away in January at age 94, she left behind an extraordinary legacy of service to her family, community and the Red Cross she loved.
“She spent more than 22 years working with and volunteering her service [to the Red Cross,”] said Frederick Esters, one of Gwendolyn’s four children. “She loved the Red Cross. It was very important to Mom.”
As family members spoke about Esters, they proudly displayed her numerous awards and letters of appreciation from the Red Cross Los Angeles Region. A professional obstetrics and gynecology nurse, Esters volunteered with the Red Cross as an instructor and trainer in parenting, family planning, infant feeding and instructor preparation — touching the lives of countless families in Los Angeles’ inner city.
Among Esters’ many honors were the prestigious Clara Barton Medallion, awarded in the mid-1970s, the American Red Cross Spotlight Award in the early 1980s and Outstanding Volunteer recognition in 1976-77.
“Gwen’s contribution to the community through her efforts to improve the quality of life for infants and children is commendable,” wrote the late Marie Fuess, former director of Nursing and Health Programs, in a 1977 letter to Esters’ supervisor at what was then Martin Luther King Hospital. “Her generosity and commitment are the making of a strong Red Cross, and we are proud and pleased to be associated with her.”
Esters’ volunteer service with the Red Cross closely aligned with her professional role as a registered nurse at the former King/Drew Medical Center in South Los Angeles. Assigned to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, she taught family planning and prenatal care to community members, eventually becoming a professional facilitator, trainer and workshop speaker, work that reflected a long tradition of Black health care leaders addressing inequities through education and service.
“She was very serious and deeply dedicated to her calling, especially in working with young women who were pregnant or who had recently delivered,” Frederick Esters said. “That was [her] passion.”
Her children describe their mother as a loving wife and parent who was diligent and hard-working. A Louisiana native, Esters worked full time as a licensed vocational nurse while also pursuing her registered nurse degree as a full-time student.
They also note the pride she took in being among the first groups of predominantly African American nursing students at Los Angeles Southwest College in the early 1970s — a milestone that reflected both her determination and the expanding opportunities for Black professionals during that era.
“When my mother earned her RN degree, that wasn’t enough,” Esters said. “She decided she wanted to become a health educator, then a trainer, and then a trainer of trainers. She never stopped growing professionally.”
Esters’ work to improve the lives of low-income families through health education earned her the respect of countless community members, as well as local and national leaders, many of whom sent letters of appreciation when she retired in the early 1990s. Yet as her life came to a close, her children say it was the recognition she received through the Red Cross that remained most meaningful to her.
“She was emphatic about being laid to rest with that Red Cross pin, specifically on her left lapel,” said Dorian Esters, another of her sons. “That lets you know how important her service and the work she did with the Red Cross were to her.”
Frederick Esters said his mother expressed the same wish to him. “One of her last requests was, ‘Bury me with my Red Cross pin.’”
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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