Raleigh doctor who delivered 10,000 babies, fought for integrating health care, dies at 95

Dr. George Clyde Debnam, who was known as one of the most prominent Black physicians in Raleigh, died last week at the age of 95.

An obituary posted for Debnam said he lived in Youngsville as a child but moved to Raleigh in 1943 to attend Shaw University after receiving encouragement from his professors at Shaw University.

In the early 1960s he founded the well-respected Debnam Clinic in southeast Raleigh, which is still in operation today.

By the time he retired, after 50 years of practice, he had delivered more than 10,000 babies -- believed to be the most anyone in North Carolina has delivered -- and performed over 5,000 operations.

His twin daughters, both doctors, joined him at his family practice after completing their residency at Cambridge Hospital in 1955.

According to his obituary, Debnam helped thousands of people in the Raleigh area, especially those in southeast Raleigh, Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs.

Debnam and his wife, Marjorie, who died in 2004, had three children and lived in the historic Roberts Parks neighborhood.

"Dr. Debnam was a devoted husband and father as well as uncle for his numerous nieces and nephews," his obituary read.

He was also a published author and amateur historian who fought to integrate Raleigh's health care services while working at Saint Agnes Hospital, a segregated facility for African-American citizens.

"Debnam was the first physician to admit patients to the new integrated Wake Medical Center (then Wake Memorial Hospital) when it opened," the post reads.