ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - On August 15, 1900, a midwife who went on to deliver over 3,000 babies in South Georgia was born in Baker County.

Mary Francis Hill Coley worked as a midwife in Dougherty, Lee, Mitchell and Worth counties for more than 30 years. In that time, not only did she deliver over 3,000 babies, she also became known for her work ethic and her service to both Black and white mothers in the segregated south.

Coley’s care didn’t just stop after the babies were delivered, though. She would visit the new families for days to help with housework and filing for certificates for the new babies.

To honor her service to South Georgia, the Georgia Health Department produced a movie titled “All My Babies” about Coley’s work in 1952.

In 2002, the movie was placed on the National Film Registry and has been used to help train midwives ever since.

To watch “All My Babies,” visit this link.

Happy birthday, Ms. Coley!

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