For nearly eight decades, Sadie G. Mays Health & Rehabilitation Center (Sadie G. Mays) has stood as a cornerstone of compassionate healthcare in Atlanta. On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, when the center celebrates its 79th anniversary, it will also honor a legacy of dignity, healing, and advocacy for older adults and individuals in need of long-term care.
Founded in 1947 by Sadie Gray Mays, the pioneering social worker, professor, and wife of renowned Morehouse College President, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, the center was created during a time when healthcare access for African Americans was limited and inequitable. Mrs. Mays envisioned a facility where seniors and vulnerable citizens could receive quality care in a safe and respectful environment. Her vision became a reality when she and her fellow churchwomen opened the doors of the Happy Haven Nursing Home on the site of the former Battle Hill sanatorium in northwest Atlanta. After her death in 1969, the facility was renamed for Mrs. Mays, and her mission has continued ever since.
Today, Sadie G. Mays serves as one of Atlanta’s trusted providers of skilled nursing, rehabilitation services, and hospice care. The 206-bed, nonprofit facility, which recently completed a $3.2 million renovation, supports residents through a comprehensive approach that emphasizes clinical excellence while honoring the individuality and dignity of every resident. “We proudly stand on the shoulders of Sadie Gray Mays and continue her legacy by providing high-quality, compassionate nursing and rehabilitative care,” said Executive Director, Gerri Cooper. At the heart of the center’s success is its dedicated team of healthcare professionals—nurses, therapists, physicians, nursing assistants, and others, who work together to deliver personalized care.
“Being here was the best thing for me,” said resident, Nathaniel Swinger. “I was not living a good lifestyle, and I couldn’t even walk when I first came here. Now I can walk again, and I’m experiencing things I never had before, like the musical we went to see at Christmas time.”
Over the years, the organization has maintained a strong connection to the surrounding community. Families throughout Atlanta have trusted Sadie G. Mays to care for their loved ones, creating relationships that span generations. Community partnerships, outreach initiatives, family engagement, and the work of many volunteer groups, individuals, and donors have helped the center remain deeply rooted in the people it serves.
As healthcare continues to evolve, Sadie G. Mays is focused on the future, investing in modern care practices, strengthening rehabilitation services, and enhancing the resident experience. A strong suit is their innovative and culturally relevant programming which ranges from the residents’ book club and choir to concerts and dance performances presented by local nonprofits.
This 79th anniversary is more than a milestone—it is a celebration of the residents whose lives have been touched, the families who have placed their trust in the organization, and the dedicated professionals who have devoted their careers to caring for others. For more information or to make a 79th anniversary donation, see www.sgmays.org.