In Memoriam: Ellen Josephine McGehee Cavert
Celebrating the life of wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and philanthropist
June 30, 1920 – August 4, 2021
Sometimes one life has a long-lasting reach into the lives of future generations. This is true of the life and legacy of Ellen Josephine McGehee Cavert, 101, who passed away on Aug. 4, 2021. Her volunteer leadership touched thousands of lives of children and families in our region. Most notably, as founder of The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital, she inspired women to work together to collectively raise millions of dollars for pediatric care at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Cavert served as president and then chairman emeritus over a 49-year period.
In 1972, Cavert’s eight-day-old granddaughter, Abbie, died at Wolfson Children’s Hospital because the facility did not have the proper equipment to care for the needs of critically ill newborns. Cavert’s daughter, Ray Martin, had given birth months prematurely to twin girls. At the time, Wolfson had no neonatal equipment to support even one premature infant, let alone two. After Abbie died, her twin, Annie, was transported in an incubator in the back of her parents’ station wagon to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, where she received the lifesaving care she needed for the next four months before finally coming home.
Determined no other family would have to experience such a loss, Cavert gathered 40 women she knew had a heart for children, and The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital was born. Caro Powell shared her recollection: “I shall remember always that meeting in Ellen’s living room where she shared her story of pain and loss, her vision for a cutting-edge children’s hospital, and her goal to raise funds to ensure it would become a reality. In a morning filled with passion and enthusiasm, The Women’s Board was formed. Walking out, Joannie Stein Newton turned to me and said, ‘Do you realize we just launched a dream?’”
The Women’s Board’s mission is to raise funds and awareness so every sick child who enters Wolfson’s doors can have access to the best healthcare possible. Under Cavert’s leadership, The Women’s Board established two well-known events – the annual Art and Antiques Show and the Florida Forum, with proceeds from both benefiting Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Recently retired Baptist Health CEO Hugh Greene said: “Ellen Cavert was steadfast and immovable in her commitment to children through all these years. The depth of her devotion emanated from her faith. The first time I met with her more than 30 years ago she began the meeting by asking if she could pray. To my surprise, she got down on her knees, reached for my hand and prayed for me in my new role and then, of course, for the children at Wolfson.”
Karen Wolfson, whom Ellen mentored, said: “I really loved Ellen. Knowing a person whose life work is God-inspired and directed is remarkable because of the direction, confidence and encouragement she always instilled in others. Ellen was the master teacher of choosing Joy and Hope as life guideposts. No job, especially for babies and children, was ever too much, and Ellen’s faith, strength, love and persistence were gifts to all of us.”
To commemorate her nearly five decades of committed service and leadership, The Women’s Board established the Cavert Legacy Society and Endowment.
At the age of 95 Cavert was the 2015 recipient of the Times-Union’s EVE Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to children’s healthcare throughout Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. Her enduring contribution to our region’s families was recognized at the national level as well. In 1991she was presented with the Jefferson Award by the American Institute for Public Service in Washington, D.C.
Moved by her mother’s premature death from cancer, she served on the American Cancer Society executive board for decades and on the boards of the YWCA, Young Life and Jacksonville Garden Club. As founding members of the San Jose Church of Christ, she and her husband led during the initial design and construction of the original church buildings, a commitment that continued for many years thereafter. They also were founding members of San Jose Country Club. She was most recently a member of Southside United Methodist Church.
A Jacksonville native born to Ray Sutton and Clifford G. McGehee on June 30, 1920, Cavert graduated from Landon High School in 1938, then studied interior design at Ward Belmont in Nashville, Tennessee, where she met Tillman Cavert, Jr., attorney and youngest member ever of the Tennessee state legislature. They married two years later at the McGehee family home, Heaven Trees, on the banks of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville.
During her husband’s active duty in WWII, Cavert accompanied her husband to 26 different military bases, where he trained pilots. Two of their children were born during this time. In 1945 the young family returned to Jacksonville where her husband joined his father-in- law at Jacksonville Paper Company, and two more children were born.
Mrs. Cavert is preceded in death by her husband of 73 years, Tillman Cavert, Jr. and her son, Tillman Cavert, III. She is survived by her three daughters: Ray Cavert (Mrs. Richard C. Martin) of Jacksonville; Ellen “BaBa” Cavert (Mrs. Albert McCaffrey) of St. Simons Island, Ga.; Grace Cavert (Mrs. C. William Nelson) of Orlando; 11 grand- children and 24 great grandchildren. A private family graveside service was held at Oaklawn Cemetery in August, and a memorial service at Southside Methodist is being planned for a later date.
Memorial gifts should be sent to The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital, 1325 San Marco Blvd., Suite 802, Jacksonville, FL. 32207, or can be donated online at www.womensboardwch.com. Gifts should be designated for the Cavert Legacy Endowment.
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