Published 4:15 pm Friday, April 4, 2025
By Cal Bryant
AHOSKIE – It was nearly 30 years ago that the Roanoke-Chowan area lost a man who poured his heart as well as his money into taking care of the medical needs of local citizens.
Dr. J.D. Weaver
Dr. Joseph Dudley Weaver died on Nov. 21, 1998, but not before serving five decades as not only a medical doctor, but a stanch supporter of advancing the level of medical care in a rural area.
While he no longer walks among us, his legacy lives on through the Dr. J.D. Weaver Scholarship Foundation. Every two years, the Foundation awards college scholarships to aspiring medical professionals to follow in Weaver’s broad footsteps.
The scholarships are awarded to those graduating from high schools in Bertie, Hertford, and Northampton counties.
Scholarship applications have been delivered to the high school student counselors and are due back to the Foundation by May 9.
Meanwhile, donations to the Foundation are being solicited by letter and word of mouth. If you would like to donate, please contact any of the board members listed as follows: Howard Hunter, III, Earline Davis, Dr. Claudia Weaver Richardson, Bertha Newsome King, Lillie Owens-White, Mary Ruffin-Harrell, F. Garry Lewter, J. Wendell Hall, and Dwight Ransome.
“Young people in our local communities have a desire and a hunger to learn, but many face financial difficulty when it comes to paying for college,” said Ransome who serves as president of the Weaver Foundation “The Foundation is committed to keeping this wonderful legacy of giving alive. Please consider making a donation so that we can continue to pay it forward.”
On a personal note, Ransome said that Dr. Weaver had a big impact on his life.
“Not only was Dr. Weaver an excellent doctor, he was a very good friend and a great mentor to me,” Ransome stated.
Born in 1911 and raised in Winton, Dr. Weaver was educated through the local public school system, graduating from Water’s Normal School before going on and earning his Bachelor of Science and Doctorate of Medicine from the prestigious Howard University.
Soon after being licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina and Virginia, World War II broke out and, like many men of what is hailed as the greatest generation, Dr. Weaver served his country. Commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the US Medical Corps, he proudly served with the 372 Second Infantry Regiment for two years.
Over the course of the next five decades, Dr. Weaver served again – this time as the physician for multiple generations of patients. Ahoskie was his base of operations as he operated Weaver’s Clinic on Maple Street.
Driven by a desire to help the entire community, he later joined the practice of the Roanoke-Chowan Medical Center. He also served Roanoke-Chowan Hospital in a number of capacities; was Medical Director of I.B.P.O.E. of W. Grand Lodge; was the physician for the Hertford County Law Enforcement Center; and served as Medical Examiner for both Hertford County and Gates County.
“It is well known that Dr. Weaver never refused medical services to anyone, regardless of his or her ability to pay,” said Ransome. “Our hearts and our minds should be just like that of Dr. Weaver.”
The Foundation began awarding scholarships in 1998, before Dr. Weaver passed away. Since that time the Foundation has given over $70,000 to local students in an effort to further their education.
“Dr. Weaver dedicated his life to 58 years of professional medical service to our community. The Scholarship Foundation is trying to continue this legacy of helping others,” Ransome concluded.
Cal Bryant, a 40-year veteran of the newspaper industry, serves as the Editor at Roanoke-Chowan Publications, publishers of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Gates County Index, and Front Porch Living magazine.
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