Community members celebrate new Sentara hospital in North Carolina

Lindsay Stevenson, M.D., obstetrician/gynecologist at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center, was walking through the grocery store when a woman approached him.

She showed me a picture and said, 'You delivered me and my husband, and you just delivered our daughter,'" said Dr. Stevenson, who smiled as he recalled the moment. "It made me stop and think, 'Ok, wow, I've been here a long time.'"

The former middle school band director-turned-physician has been delivering babies in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, for more than 30 years.

On August 8, he delivered Jaimir James, the first baby born in the new $278 million Sentara Albemarle Medical Center campus, which is home to a labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum unit. 

"Our current hospital was built in 1960, so I'm very excited about this new facility," said Dr. Stevenson. 

In addition to a 90-bed state-of-the-art hospital, the campus houses a medical office with outpatient and provider services, and a new helipad for emergency transport. 

“This is showing the community we are committed for life,” said Teresa Watson, president of Sentara Albemarle Medical Center.

The history of healthcare in Elizabeth City spans 100 years. In 1915, the first hospital opened on the waterfront. In 1960, the second hospital relocated closer to town, and on August 8, 2025, the third hospital opened just ten minutes down the road. 

‘A lot of memories’

On August 8, moving day, an announcement echoed through the empty halls and rooms of the 65-year-old Sentara Albemarle Medical Center.

“Facility alert. The last patient has departed. After 65 years of service, the old SAMC is now officially closed.” 

The SAMC family says one final goodbye before relocating to the new hospital.

Rita Gibbs, a registered nurse in the intensive care unit, soaked in the moment, reflecting on the 39 years she worked in the hospital. 

“I was born at this hospital. I had my three kids at this hospital, two girls and a son,” said Gibbs. “Five of my seven grandchildren were born here, and in February my first great-grandchild was born here. I’ve made a lot of memories and have met a lot of people here.”

86-year-old Willie Mae Overton said she was happy to be at the new hospital for the final announcement, as it would’ve made her too emotional. 

Overton became Sentara Albemarle Medical Center’s first Black secretary in 1957, and she is the only person who can say she’s worked in the 1915, 1960, and 2025 hospitals.  

“When I started working here, we were segregated, so I took what I could get,” said Overton. “But one thing about it, I was never looked down on. I always got respect because I gave respect.”

Overton’s father, Willie Jay, and mother, Elizabeth, both worked as housekeepers in the original 1915 hospital. Her daughter, Judy Riddick, worked at the 1960 hospital for 43 years in patient registration and retired in April.

“This hospital, this community, is her life,” said Riddick. 

Willie Jay Overton (left), Elizabeth Overton (center), and Judy Riddick and Willie Mae Overton. 

Two months ago, Sheryl Korzeniowski, a registered nurse on the labor and delivery unit, experienced a new family memory at the hospital. 

“My dad was born here, me and my brother were born here, all three of my grandchildren were born here,’ said Korzeniowski, who has worked at the hospital for 22 years. “And I just helped my daughter Peyton deliver her daughter in the same room I delivered her in 21 years ago.” 

After Brinely was born, Korzeniowski switched into nurse mode and did all her granddaughter’s admission work.

“I did her medications, her footprints, all the things from start to finish. It was very, very, very special.” 

Twenty-one years after Sheryl Korzeniowski (right) delivered her daughter Peyton (middle), she helped Peyton deliver her daughter, Brinley, in the same room.

At 2:16 p.m. when the first baby was born at the new hospital, the “new baby born” lullaby sounded over the old hospital speakers.

Embracing change

Earlier this year on her birthday, laboratory technician Rachel Lane was sitting at her workstation when something dawned on her. 

“I was like, ‘Wow, 25 years ago I was upstairs in the nursery,’” said Lane, who was born in 2000 at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center.

“I’m one of the youngest ones here, but I think it’s important to be around the older generation, to learn how they do stuff.”

Six months after Lane was born in 2000, Deborah Brite began working in the hospital as a cook. She would go on to do administration in the emergency department and now works as the supervisor of housekeeping.  

Brite (left) and Lane in the lobby of the new Sentara Albemarle Medical Center.

“It’s bittersweet leaving the old Albemarle, but I know to elevate there has to be change,” said Brite, who was also born at the old hospital. “If you embrace change you get the best out of it.”

Glen Needham, vice president of operations at Sentara Albemarle Medical Center, said colleagues have been embracing the beauty of the new hospital. 

“People think we bought new artwork, but it's the same art from the old hospital,” said Needham. “It just looks better in this new hospital because of all the light pouring in.”

You can learn more about the new Sentara Albemarle Medical Center here!