UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Magazine Spring 2017 | Page 30

inside view In Memoriam : Emmie Bolden J U LY 7, 1922 – FEBRUA RY 16, 2017 The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center mourns the loss of one of its most loyal and longtime supporters, Emmie Cardwell Bolden, who passed away on February 16 at the age of 94. Born in Evergreen, Alabama, on July 7, 1922, Mrs. Bolden was the first of two children born to Lofton and Emmie Pitts Cardwell. After graduation from Evergreen High School she attended Huntingdon College before entering the work force in Evergreen. It was in Evergreen where she met and married Herman Bolden, her husband of 71 years. The Boldens lived in Evergreen two decades before his work brought him to Birmingham, where Mrs. Bolden became active in civic and community affairs. Having had several family members affected by cancer, the Boldens developed a keen interest in cancer research and 28 U A B C O M P R E H E N S I V E C A N C E R treatment, which led to their lifelong support of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. Their first gift in 1977 enabled the still-young center to accelerate its progress toward becoming a world-class cancer research and treatment facility, and their support continues to this day. Mrs. Bolden and her husband were charter members of what would eventually become the Cancer Center’s Advisory Board, and in 1988 they provided the lead gift to add three research floors to the Wallace Tumor Institute, where the fifth floor is named in their honor. In addition to her charitable causes, Mrs. Bolden had a passionate love of flowers and collected jewelry, chocolate pots and jam jars. Mrs. Bolden is survived by her husband Herman, son Stanley C. Bolden, granddaughter Caroline B. McCormic and sister Vam C. York of Gainesville, Florida. C E N T E R