LEGACY VILLAGE OF CLEVELAND SHARE THE HERITAGE OF THREE OF THEIR RESIDENTS TO CELEBRATE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

Cleveland, Tenn. (March, 2024) — Women’s History Month has been observed in the United States for over 35 years. It has been fundamental in recognizing women’s rights and the historical transformation of women’s rights in America. Never will you find women with such rich wisdom, experience, vibrancy and contribution as those living out their Golden Years at a senior living community. Such is the case at Legacy Village of Cleveland, who wish to honor and share the stories of three of their beloved residents: Yvonne Hubbard, Evaline Echols and Bobbie Atchley.

Yvonne Hubbard moved to Cleveland to attend Lee University after high school. She graduated with a degree in Education and taught for a few years as a public-school teacher. Ms. Hubbard’s strong desire to achieve led her back to school to pursue a master’s degree, and eventually a doctorate in Educational Psychology. Upon completion of her degrees and with the urge to serve her country, Ms. Hubbard joined the Army as a medical social worker. She served with the rank of Captain for nine years. After her discharge, she returned to Cleveland and took up a position at Hiwassee Mental Health Center and Tennova Healthcare as a supervisor on the Behavioral Unit. Ms. Hubbard’s final job was a clinical position at the Chattanooga Veteran Center where she treated veterans struggling with PTSD.

Evaline Echols dedicated her life’s work to education. She served at Lee University (called Lee College for most of her tenure) for 59 years. Ms. Echols served as a Professor for Business Communications and served on the Chair of The Business Department. She worked hard to provide the best education for her students by seeking the best education she could provide for herself. While she taught a full schedule, she also attended night classes at UTC to earn her master’s degree, and then continued at LSU to earn her Doctorate in Business Education.

Bobbie Atchley always wanted to be a nurse. In 1960, she earned her LPN and began her career at Bradley Memorial Hospital, where she worked for three years. She then transitioned to Dr. Humphries office where she worked for a little over a decade, during which, she attended evening classes at Cleveland State to earn her RN degree. Ms. Atchley did not stop there – through The University of New York at Albany but on MTSU’s campus, she obtained her Bachelor of Science of Nursing degree, finishing at the top of her class. She obtained a job at Bradley Memorial Hospital where she served for 23 years. Bobbie’s contribution to the nursing field earned her several recognitions, including being awarded Nurse of the Year three times for her district and being in “Who’s Who” three times. Additionally, she served as a delegate for the State and National Conventions of Nursing and on several boards, including the Physician’s Malpractice Board, the NCLEX Boards for LPN’s, the Board for Bradley Memorial Hospice, and the Board of Trustees for Bradley Memorial Hospital.

Ms. Hubbard, Ms. Echols and Ms. Atchley are just three of the many amazing women at Legacy Village of Cleveland whose legacies have touched the lives of many.

“My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” - Maya Angelo