Opaline Deveraux was born on March 26, 1912, in Carthage, Texas, to Henry and Effie Deveraux. In 1940 in Oklahoma City, she married Bert V. Wadkins. To this union, two children were born, Janice and Thomas.
Soror Wadkins was the first African American to earn a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Oklahoma becoming instrumental in desegregating the University of Oklahoma. Because of her efforts in working with the Oklahoma Negro Medical Society, in 1945, the first hospital in OKC to treat black patients was established as the University Hospital South Ward.
She organized the first school in Oklahoma City to train African American Practical Nurses. From 1949 until 1953, Soror Wadkins trained more than 200 Practical Nurses and she established Langston School of Nursing. She developed the Well Baby and Diabetic Clinics in several OKC African American churches. She also formed a health program for Native Americans in Southwestern Oklahoma which successfully help reduce their infant mortality rate by 50%.
In the 1973, Soror Wadkins initiated a prenatal clinic for teenage mothers, naming it the “Stork’s Nest”. Soror Wadkins served in many capacities for her beloved Chi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and often offered her beautiful home for committee meeting and fun times. She was a board member of March of Dimes and organized the Stork’s Nest for her chapter. The Storks Nest expanded to Missouri, Kansas and Colorado. Soror Wadkins was a life member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc as well as the Links, Inc.
In November 1976, Soror Wadkins retired and David Boren, then governor of Oklahoma, declared November 14 as Opaline Wadkins Day! In 1985, Soror Wadkins received a Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from Bishop College and in 1993 was inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame.
Soror Opaline Wadkins became a Triumphant Zeta on April 11, 2000. Her services were held on April 20, 2000 at Tabernacle Baptist Church. The Chi Zeta Chapter Honors Opaline Wadkins through our commitment to wellness.
Soror Wadkins was the first African American to earn a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Oklahoma becoming instrumental in desegregating the University of Oklahoma. Because of her efforts in working with the Oklahoma Negro Medical Society, in 1945, the first hospital in OKC to treat black patients was established as the University Hospital South Ward.
She organized the first school in Oklahoma City to train African American Practical Nurses. From 1949 until 1953, Soror Wadkins trained more than 200 Practical Nurses and she established Langston School of Nursing. She developed the Well Baby and Diabetic Clinics in several OKC African American churches. She also formed a health program for Native Americans in Southwestern Oklahoma which successfully help reduce their infant mortality rate by 50%.
In the 1973, Soror Wadkins initiated a prenatal clinic for teenage mothers, naming it the “Stork’s Nest”. Soror Wadkins served in many capacities for her beloved Chi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and often offered her beautiful home for committee meeting and fun times. She was a board member of March of Dimes and organized the Stork’s Nest for her chapter. The Storks Nest expanded to Missouri, Kansas and Colorado. Soror Wadkins was a life member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc as well as the Links, Inc.
In November 1976, Soror Wadkins retired and David Boren, then governor of Oklahoma, declared November 14 as Opaline Wadkins Day! In 1985, Soror Wadkins received a Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from Bishop College and in 1993 was inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame.
Soror Opaline Wadkins became a Triumphant Zeta on April 11, 2000. Her services were held on April 20, 2000 at Tabernacle Baptist Church. The Chi Zeta Chapter Honors Opaline Wadkins through our commitment to wellness.