Co-founder of county's first rural health clinic dies

Frances Wofford, co-founder of Etowah County’s first rural health clinic, has died at the age of 89.

Born Mary Frances Leeth in Etowah County and reared in Gadsden, Wofford died Aug. 18 at her son’s home in Birmingham, where she had lived the last three years. She was the widow of Lee Wofford, former Etowah County commissioner and probate judge.

In 1977, Wofford was the co-founder of the Sardis City Medical Clinic, Etowah County’s first rural clinic serving all residents regardless of income. Wofford wrote the first federal grant that funded the clinic and co-managed it for seven years. The clinic now is part of the expansive Quality of Life Health Services.

“My mother was extremely community minded,” said her son, Tom Wofford, “and even though she was modest about it, she was very proud to help so many people get access to medical care who couldn’t before. I remember the clinic saw eight patients the first day, but within a month was seeing 30 people some days. Before the clinic opened, the needs of those people in rural Etowah County had not only gone unmet, but also had been practically invisible.”

Wofford attended 11th Street Elementary and Disque Middle School before her family moved to Sand Mountain, where she was named “Miss Sardis High School” in 1945. She graduated from Gadsden Business College and worked as office manager of the Merita Bakery during the 1940s and 1950s.

She worked in her husband’s record five successful campaigns for Etowah County commissioner from 1964 through 1980.

Wofford is survived by her son and two grandchildren.