Carolyn Mann Rawlins
WINSTON–SALEM —- Carolyn Mann Rawlins, M.D., passed away peacefully at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston–Salem, on Monday, February 26, 2007.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Hayworth–Miller Funeral Home, 3315 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston–Salem. Rev. Joseph Wren will officiate.
Dr. Rawlins is awaiting the return of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Originally from Indiana, Dr. Rawlins’ home for the last seven years was in N.C., and in her own words, “I just can’t believe the beauty around me in N.C.” One thing she always looked forward to was to drive through the mountains at the changing of the colors of the leaves on the trees.
Dr. Rawlins wanted to be a doctor since early childhood. After graduating from the Indiana University of Medicine, she opened her obstetrical practice in 1949. At that time, mothers were anesthetized during childbirth; however, one of her early patients requested natural childbirth. This mother wanted to be awake and aware while giving birth to her baby, and this birth changed Dr. Rawlins’ life! She became a pioneer in natural childbirth and family- -centered maternal care, delivering more than 16,000 babies, the majority of whom were delivered while she was on staff at St. Margaret Hospital in Hammond, Indiana. She also worked tirelessly to educate fellow doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff and gave lectures to citizen and professional groups on childbirth education, breastfeeding, and human sexuality. Dr. Rawlins was a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and also the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. She helped found the International Childbirth Education Association and served for more than 30 years as a consultant to the board of the La Leche League International. A writer of many articles for medical publications, Dr. Rawlins also wrote a series of articles for Free Spirit magazine and The Way Magazine entitled, “Hey God, How Come You Made Us This Way?” She spent her professional career receiving answers to this most fervent prayer and shared her wisdom, insight, and experience with her patients, colleagues, and many friends. In the fall of 1980, Dr. Rawlins’ 9–session presentation about pregnancy and childbirth, “A New Life”, was produced. This teaching overflowed with the great love she has for God, the human body, and the miracle of birth. Even in the “Doctor’s Book of Home Remedies” published by Rodale Press, Dr. Rawlins’ very practical advice to new mothers regarding breastfeeding was quoted extensively. During her 45+ years of obstetrical practice, Dr. Rawlins learned that a key to a successful professional and personal life was in giving freely to others, and this she did daily with joy and thankfulness to God. She gave her all each day in thanks to Him and was an active participant in fellowship gatherings with The Way International since 1976. On June 30, 1993, Dr. Rawlins hung up her stethoscope, sold her home, and “retired”, although she never, ever referred to herself as being “retired”, nor did she ever stop teaching and sharing her “down–to- -earth” wisdom. After having lived in Rome City, Indiana for six years, she moved to N.C. to live with one of her sons and his family.
(c) 2007 Greensboro News Record. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.