The Moore Building, as seen from McIver Street, photographed in February 1976. 
The Moore Building photographed recently from above.
Memories of the Moore Building
The UNC Greensboro School of Nursing called the Margaret C. Moore Building on McIver Street home since its doors opened in 1969. It was originally called the Nursing Education Building, but it was renamed in honor of Margaret Catherine Moore ’35, who was an original School of Nursing faculty member.
Over the years, the Moore Building has produced thousands of Spartan Nurses and countless memories. The School of Nursing recently moved into the new Nursing and Instructional Building, located just down the block from the Moore Building on UNCG’s campus.
Before we close the doors, we wanted to share some of our favorite memories and photographs of the Moore Building from our proud alumni.
Moore Building, circa 1990.
Amore in Moore: A love story
“I met my husband in the Moore Building! One of three guys in the nursing class of 1988, I was not so impressed with him – until we both went to Chicago for the National Student Nurses’ Association convention. I was surprised how engaged he was with the house of delegates, convincing me to co-author a bill with him. Next thing you know, we’re sitting beside each other in every nursing class and raising the eyebrows of students and faculty! We were married in August after graduation, and are celebrating 32 years of marriage this year.”
Dr. Daria L. King ’08
“Take your feet off of my furniture!”
“My most prominent memory of the Moore Building was during the senior class that Dr. (Eloise) Lewis taught. She was, as I’m sure you know, an imposing presence. The first day of her class, she stood ramrod straight on the auditorium stage, looked quietly around the room, and her first words were ‘Young lady, take your feet off of my furniture!’ One of my colleagues, assuming a classic student pose, had put her feet on the back of the chair in front of her. Suffice it to say, we did NOT put our feet anywhere but on the floor from that moment forward. Chewing gum was also forbidden in her class!”
Elizabeth K. Woodard ’81
Cram sessions in the lobby
“I remember as an undergraduate a large group of us congregating in that small lobby before tests and quizzing each other! Last-minute cramming if you will. Much of that same group did the same thing just before taking state boards in Raleigh, only in a hotel room (back in the day when we all took them at the state fairgrounds on the same two days in July). In any event, I am sure I picked up one or two correct answers in that last-minute study session in the lobby that I would have missed otherwise. Thank goodness for smart friends!”
Dr. Rita Hundley Pickler ’79
Classmates now colleagues
“My fondest Moore moment were the friendships developed amongst my classmates now colleagues and friends. Being accepted into the School of Nursing back then felt like a major accomplishment because UNCG’s School of Nursing program was predominantly white. I felt like I had achieved a major goal for myself.”
LaToya Lowery Brown ’99
Hush Puppies and hair pins
“I will never forget the first time we met our awesome dean, Eloise Lewis; getting our uniform hems measured to fall below our knees (when everyone was wearing miniskirts!); those brown Hush Puppies; forcing the cafeterias to open up earlier so nursing students could get breakfast before clinicals; and our caps that no legion of hair pins could ever keep on straight. And particularly, the awareness that our education was going to make us very special nurses, nurses who could change the world.”
Linda Bray Rimer ’71
“Please take your place?”
“My best memory is that of the last day of class in the School of Nursing. I had always sat on the right end of the second row in the large classroom. I’d sat there throughout nursing school and for the prerequisites, such as anatomy, chemistry, etc. For the last class, Dean Lewis was going to brief us on how to apply for boards, graduation details, etc. My best friend, Julie Fitzpatrick Pickren, and I came in at the last minute, and it was way too obvious to waltz up to the second row with the dean already in place. So we sat in the back. All at once, in her crispest and most professional voice, Dean Lewis announced, “MISS LYNCH, YOU HAVE SAT ON THE SECOND ROW THROUGHOUT YOUR TIME AT UNCG. WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE YOUR PLACE SO THAT WE CAN COMMENCE?” I died. I slunk up to the second row, with Julie in tow. And the rest is history.”
Kathleen Lynch Simpson ’73
A place to build dreams
“I was the first transfer student into the UNCG BSN program in 1969 and was honored to be in the new Margaret C. Moore Nursing Building for the initial year. When I first met the dean, Dr. Eloise Lewis, she assured me that UNCG would give me the professional foundation to ‘build my dreams and be anything I wanted to be.’ Dr. Lewis was a wonderful mentor during my years at UNCG and later in my professional life with Cone Health and the community. While at UNCG, I had the opportunity to work with the underserved in the community that became my professional passion. I have recently retired from a 47-year nursing career with Cone Health, 44 of those as a nurse manager. I have been very successful professionally on a local, state, and national level, but the greatest gifts are the amazing stories of impact I carry in my heart. The UNCG School of Nursing gave me the building blocks and courage to dream and soar!”
Lelia Summers Moore ’71
It all started with a form
“UNCG, the School of Nursing, and the Margaret C. Moore building each hold a special place in my heart, as do many of the faculty and students I interacted with during my time as a student (1985-1989). I especially remember meeting with Dr. Ruby Barnes to discuss options for enrollment in the MSN program. Dr. Barnes was instrumental in my decision to attend UNCG. While meeting with Dr. Barnes, she reviewed program requirements and documented a timeline for completion on a program format form. That very action enabled me to see that my dream of achieving an MSN was possible and doable. I still have that program format form in my files, as well as the acceptance letter to the School of Nursing.”
Martha D. Barham ’89
A Spartan family tradition
“My memories are strong. I started back in 2010 and obtained my RN-to-BSN degree from UNCG, then went on to obtain my master’s (I was part of the last master’s AGNP cohort), and finally my doctoral degree. I recall many moments in the Moore Building. … UNCG is my heart and soul. This year my own daughter starts at UNCG, keeping up the Spartan tradition.”
Dr. Jolene Tadzia Cannady ’12
Like all good things
This is indeed a sad close to fond memories experienced from long ago. But like all good things. Wishing the new students all the best and hope they look back, at the years they spend in the new building, and know they will be some of the best they ever had.
Lisa Seidel Worthy ’87
Enjoyable times at UNCG
I had the BEST classmates ever. We supported each other and enjoyed our times at UNCG.
Wanda Thompson Williams MSN ’89, PhD ’10