Honoring a Legacy of Care: Melissa Henderson’s Story for National Nurses Week
At Covington Women’s Health Specialists, we’re proud to deliver our patients’ babies at Piedmont Newton Hospital alongside an incredible team of nurses. One of those exceptional nurses is Melissa Henderson—a beloved caregiver, respected colleague, and joyful presence in the Labor and Delivery unit. In celebration of National Nurses Week, we’re honored to share Melissa’s story and highlight the remarkable legacy of compassionate nursing her family has built in our community across generations.
A Calling Passed Down Through Generations
Melissa’s inspiration to become a nurse came from her grandmother, Rebecca Dodson Kirby, a woman whose lifelong dedication to others set a powerful example.
“Growing up, we’d gather for Sunday dinners at the farm with my Maw-maw and Paw-paw,” Melissa shares. “She would tell stories about her adventures as a home health nurse. She was always so loving, always putting others first. I knew I wanted to follow in her footsteps.”
Rebecca Kirby’s career spanned more than six decades, from graduating from Vanderbilt in 1955 to fully retiring (for the third time!) at the age of 82. She served as head of the nursery at Vanderbilt, worked in public health across four states, specialized in geriatric care, and returned to school 20 years after graduation to earn her Master’s as a Nurse Practitioner from Emory University. She even stood behind then-Governor Jimmy Carter when he signed the first Nurses Week proclamation in 1975.
Today, Melissa is one of three granddaughters who proudly followed their Maw-maw into nursing.
A Career of Purpose in Labor and Delivery
Melissa began her journey in Labor and Delivery as a nursing student, taking an externship at Newton General Hospital. She quickly fell in love with the experience of helping families welcome their newest members into the world. This May marks Melissa’s 20th year as a nurse and her 21st working in Labor and Delivery.
“What I love most is the pure joy on families’ faces when they hear their baby cry for the first time,” she says. “Those moments remind me why I do this job.”
Melissa’s deep commitment to her patients is matched by the pride she takes in serving the community she calls home. “You run into patients everywhere—at the grocery store, at a restaurant—and they’ll say, ‘You were my nurse!’ and thank me. It’s the best feeling.”
A Nurse Who Does It All
Many people don’t realize just how many roles Labor and Delivery nurses take on. At Piedmont Newton Hospital, Melissa explains, “We’re a LDRP, so we do it all, from triage to labor and delivery, nursery care, postpartum care, and even circulating in the OR and providing recovery care. We’re with patients every step of the way.”
Her advice for anyone considering this field? “It’s incredibly rewarding to support families during such a transformative moment, but it’s also demanding. Don’t forget to care for yourself too.”
Inspired by Faith and Family
Outside of work, Melissa continues to live out her values through volunteer work with Operation Christmas Child. She spends her free time collecting and organizing shoebox gifts that share her love of Jesus with children around the world, which is another way to serve others just as her Maw-maw taught her.
As Melissa reflects on her two decades in nursing, one lesson continues to guide her: “Treat others the way you want to be treated. I care for my patients the way I would want someone to care for my own family.”
To Melissa, and to every nurse who brings compassion, strength, and expertise to their work—we thank you. You make a difference every single day and we are excited to celebrate you this National Nurses Week.
