Obituary for Dr. William E. "Bill" and Dr. Beth Ann Gist
Drs. Bill and Beth Ann Gist of Black Mountain were welcomed into the arms of Jesus on Monday, September 5, 2022.
Beth Ann was born April 4, 1963 in Pendleton, IN. Beth Ann received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Anderson University in 1994, Nurse midwifery Certificate and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate in 2004, as well as a Master’s of Science in Nursing in 2005 from Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. She then received a Master of Science in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University in 2007 and her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Vanderbilt University in 2013.
Beth Ann was dedicated to the care of women throughout her career. Her lifelong commitment to teen mothers was born out of her own lived experience. As a young resourceful mom, on her own fending for herself and son, she provided food for them by fishing. She was an advocate as an educator and teacher. She wrote and spoke about her story including at the “I Believe” Teen Mom Empowerment Conference in 2014 and 2015. She most recently worked at Buncombe County Health Department and at Mountain Area Pregnancy Services.
She put her bubbly personality to work in the East Brainerd Community Theater performing in Steel Magnolias cast as Clairee. She was an inspirational writer who cared deeply for her community, looking for the good in everyone.
Bill was born August 26, 1954 in Chicago, IL to Madeline Gist, a post office worker and beautician. He was active in football as a youth and attended University of Illinois earning a degree in computer engineering and later becoming a practicing physician.
Currently, Bill worked at MAHEC as an OB/GYN Program Director, he was responsible for increasing residency size from 4 residents per year to 5 residents per year. He had a dedication to reducing health equity (for women of color and also rural patient populations). He was a board member for the Western Carolina Medical Society, Co-Chair for Black Provider Affinity Group, subcommittee of the Western Carolina Medical Society, Chair & Founder of the GME DEI Committee - MAHEC, member of MAHEC DEI Committee, facilitator DEI Education for Residents/Providers/Faculty/Staff - MAHEC, Preceptor, Minority Medical Mentoring Program - MAHEC, Advisor, Asheville African American Health Webinar Series & Symposium, and lead physician, Implicit Bias Simulation Education and Research Trial.
Beth and Bill married in 2006 and had two friendly dogs who loved the wildlife at their Black Mountain Home. As active members of Biltmore Church, East Campus, they loved to sing and were an integral part of the Worship Team, leading in the worship services.
Left to cherish their memory is his daughters, Andrea Gist and Clarinda Mann; her son, Ryan Hudson; four grandchildren; one great grandchild; her nuclear family in Indiana, and their beloved work and church family.
A celebration of life service will be held Friday, September 16, 2022 at 1:00pm at Biltmore Church, East Campus, 801 Fairview Road, Asheville, NC 28803.
A Memorial Fund dedicated to supporting the Gist’s passions for education in healthcare has been established at the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina:
https://cfwnc.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=6643
Beth Ann was born April 4, 1963 in Pendleton, IN. Beth Ann received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Anderson University in 1994, Nurse midwifery Certificate and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate in 2004, as well as a Master’s of Science in Nursing in 2005 from Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. She then received a Master of Science in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University in 2007 and her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Vanderbilt University in 2013.
Beth Ann was dedicated to the care of women throughout her career. Her lifelong commitment to teen mothers was born out of her own lived experience. As a young resourceful mom, on her own fending for herself and son, she provided food for them by fishing. She was an advocate as an educator and teacher. She wrote and spoke about her story including at the “I Believe” Teen Mom Empowerment Conference in 2014 and 2015. She most recently worked at Buncombe County Health Department and at Mountain Area Pregnancy Services.
She put her bubbly personality to work in the East Brainerd Community Theater performing in Steel Magnolias cast as Clairee. She was an inspirational writer who cared deeply for her community, looking for the good in everyone.
Bill was born August 26, 1954 in Chicago, IL to Madeline Gist, a post office worker and beautician. He was active in football as a youth and attended University of Illinois earning a degree in computer engineering and later becoming a practicing physician.
Currently, Bill worked at MAHEC as an OB/GYN Program Director, he was responsible for increasing residency size from 4 residents per year to 5 residents per year. He had a dedication to reducing health equity (for women of color and also rural patient populations). He was a board member for the Western Carolina Medical Society, Co-Chair for Black Provider Affinity Group, subcommittee of the Western Carolina Medical Society, Chair & Founder of the GME DEI Committee - MAHEC, member of MAHEC DEI Committee, facilitator DEI Education for Residents/Providers/Faculty/Staff - MAHEC, Preceptor, Minority Medical Mentoring Program - MAHEC, Advisor, Asheville African American Health Webinar Series & Symposium, and lead physician, Implicit Bias Simulation Education and Research Trial.
Beth and Bill married in 2006 and had two friendly dogs who loved the wildlife at their Black Mountain Home. As active members of Biltmore Church, East Campus, they loved to sing and were an integral part of the Worship Team, leading in the worship services.
Left to cherish their memory is his daughters, Andrea Gist and Clarinda Mann; her son, Ryan Hudson; four grandchildren; one great grandchild; her nuclear family in Indiana, and their beloved work and church family.
A celebration of life service will be held Friday, September 16, 2022 at 1:00pm at Biltmore Church, East Campus, 801 Fairview Road, Asheville, NC 28803.
A Memorial Fund dedicated to supporting the Gist’s passions for education in healthcare has been established at the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina:
https://cfwnc.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=6643