Dr. Rhetaugh Graves Dumas, Natchez

1928 - 2007

NATCHEZ — Memorial services for Dr. Rhetaugh Graves Dumas, 78, of Michigan, formerly of Natchez, who died Sunday, July 22, 2007, in Houston, Texas, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at George F. West Funeral Home Chapel.

Dr. Dumas made significant and lasting contributions to nursing and the nation as a nursing scholar, administrator and outstanding leader and mentor with a career that has included pioneering positions in government, academia and academic medical center administration. She was the first woman and the first nurse to serve as deputy director of the National Institute of Mental Health and was the first African American women to serve as dean at the University of Michigan. She was one of 36 distinguished nurses who were Charter Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing when it was established in 1973, and from 1987-1989, Dr. Dumas was president of the American Academy of Nursing.

At the time of her death, Dr. Dumas had been writing a book which she had not completed; in her personal life, Dr. Dumas enjoyed music-particularly opera; traveling and entertaining friends.

Dr. Dumas was previously married to the late Dr. Albert W. Dumas Jr. of Natchez, 1950-1959.

She is survived by a daughter, Adrienne Josephine Dumas of Houston, Texas; brothers, Wade H. Graves of Houston, Texas and Norman Bell of Hartford, Conn.