PEOPLE
The buildings are what remains, but the people who walked the halls are still at the heart of Central State. Nurses, doctors, attendants, patients, daughters, sons, siblings and so many more have deep ties to the hospital. A remarkable loyalty to Central State stays with those who experienced the hospital, even those who began their interactions with the hospital as it struggled to stay off life-support. Whatever struggles the hospital or the people inside had, they had those struggles together. Whatever successes they had were shared together. Each generation of people who interacted with the hospital grew attached to the place and each other. Here, those people share their stories.
Rusty Kidd
Former State Representative
Central State runs in Rusty Kidd’s blood. A long time advocate for the well-being of Central State as a Georgia State Representative, Rusty and his father, Culver -- another long serving State Senator with a strong investment in the well being of the hospital, make the Kidd family one of the most influential families in the history of Central State. The Kidd family has championed the rights of the mentally ill and the maintenance of
Central State for more than 65 years. Rusty is now retired from politics, but till the end of his career fought for what was best for Central State.
James Brookins
Child of CSH Employees
James Brookins is one of many Central State employees whose family also worked at the hospital. James’ brother Richard worked at Central State for an extended period of time and James joined him at the hospital in 1991, working as a tenant for five years.
Jacquelynn Nelson
Dietician
Jacquelynn Nelson made history at Central State as the very first black dietician on staff. Nelson came to Central State from Georgia College in 1971, working as a student dietitian in Central Kitchen, which, at the time, was the largest kitchen in the world. She was rehired in 1974 as a full-time dietitian and worked at the hospital until 1976.
Gloria Gates Hutto
Nurse
Gloria Gates Hutto has a special connection to the history of Central State. Gates Hutto moved to Central State 49 years ago with her former husband, John Gates. The two lived on the grounds, Gloria working as a nurse in the Freeman Building, and John in the psychology department. Gloria worked as a nurse for three years before leaving the hospital.
Carlos and Cindi Berenguer
Employees
The Berenguers met while attending Milledgeville’s own Georgia College. Carlos’ family was one of many Cuban immigrant families who found a home at Central State Hospital after fleeing to Miami, Florida. Carlos stayed in Milledgeville for college and never left Central State after he began working with the patients. Cyndi retired with 20 years of service for
Central State. She worked mainly in the developmental disabilities department at a dietician. The Berenguers raised their family around Central State, even teaching their children how to ride their bikes around the pecan grove at the heart of campus.
Stan Jones
Mental Illness Care Expert
Stan Jones first came to Central State in 1971 as part of the Commission to Improve Services for Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped Georgians, a commission designed to assess the state of the mental health care system in Georgia. Jones has worked in mental illness care since 1971, and holds a special place in his heart for Central State.
Crittenden Siblings
Children of Former Superintendent
William Crittenden held the title of Central State Hospital Superintendent from 1976 to 1978 after working his way through the administrative ranks of the hospital. He was the first superintendent who was not a medical doctor, as he was initially hired to fix Central State laundry. Four out of his six children were born on Central State property in
the Jones Building, all six held jobs at the institution and many stayed in Milledgeville to attend Georgia College for their degree. From crawling through steam pipes as children to cracking thousands of eggs in the kitchen as teenagers, these four Crittenden siblings have seen every side of Central State Hospital.
Mary Lou Hauser
Nurse
In 1977, Mary Lou Hauser arrived at Central State Hospital as a nursing student at the neighboring Georgia College. Needing a way to pay for her second college degree, she sought out the head of nursing at Central State for a job. She started work the very next day and began her 34-year tenure as a registered nurse in the Jones Building, Central State’s med surg hospital. She retired in 2011 as a nurse trainer.
George Echols
Child of CSH Employees
Born in the Jones Hospital right on Central State’s campus, George Echols lived on Central State Hospital property for 20 years. His family lived and worked at Central State - his father a psychiatrist and mother the chief dietician. His father’s 45 years of dedication to the hospital gave Echols a first hand experience to the people, places and proceedings of once the biggest mental institution in the nation.
Jim Davis
Attendant
Jim Davis is a legacy at Central State. Davis’ family makes up four generations of Central State employees, going back to his Great-Grandmother, a nurse at the hospital in the early 1900’s, to his Mother, who worked at the Powell Building in the 60’s and 70’s. Davis himself worked from 1971-74 as
an attendant at the hospital, just a local college student looking to pay for his tuition.
Sylvia Moore
Nurse
Sylvia Moore spent 34 years at Central State as a nurse. A Georgia College alum, Moore stayed in Milledgeville after school and devoted 22 years to Central State before retiring. However, Moore couldn’t stay away and returned as a part-time RN for 12 and a half years before retiring once again.
Richard Brookins
Nurse
Richard Brookins arrived at Central State Hospital in 1963 as a nurse attendant. During his time at Central State, Brookins formed lasting relationships with all those connected with the hospital, especially the patients he worked with. Like many, he says Central State impacted both himself and the surrounding area in a positive manner.
Rita Judy
Social Worker
Rita Judy came to Central State as a young girl, when her father was hired as a doctor in 1965. Judy grew up on the Central State grounds during her father’s 25-year stent, and decided to remain at the hospital into adulthood, working 30 years as a social worker for Central State patients.
Robert McMillan
Chief Engineer
Many of the beautiful red brick buildings seen on Central State’s campus were constructed from McMillan Brick, the handiwork of Robert McMillan’s great-grandfather before McMillan himself began working for the hospital. McMillan served 32 years at Central State and retired as the institution’s chief engineer. During this time, he built new buildings as well as supervised the closing of famed patient wards.