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Kitty Shelton Patterson (1840-1914)
Lynchburg Midwife

According to her great-grandson James Riley Heck III, Kitty Shelton Patterson combined "superior intelligence" with a "profound belief and faith in God—that He would work through her to help deliver healthy babies and preserve the life of the mother." She earned such a good living from her services that when she died, she was able to leave "a piece of money" to each of her living children.