Captain Jaynie Evelyn Belcher

  General Notes:

Jaynie is listed as a public school teacher living with her parents in the 1920 Federal Census.

In the 1927 Danville City Directory she is listed as:
Miss Jaynie Belcher, nurse Memo Hosp, h Nurses home
In the 1929 Danville City Directory she is listed as:
Miss Janie Belcher, nurse Memorial Hosp
See below for 1930 census record where Jaynie is a nurse at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D. C.

She later joined the Army Nurse Corp and served in World War II. After service around the world she moved to Roanoke, VA and worked at Jefferson Hospital in the maternity Ward where she was know as "Sarge". She never married, had no children, and was known to be very unsympathetic to the women in labor.

Jaynie is listed in various Army Registers as born on February 11, 1900. She retired on March 31, 1951 with the rank of Captain. Below is the Arlington National Cemetery records where her birth date is listed as November 2, 1900. Various census records indicate she was born in 1894.

The 1930 Federal Census for Washington D. C., District 369, Walter Reed General Hospital, page 158A,dated April 3, 1930 records Jaynie E. Belcher (27 - VA/VA/VA). Her occupation is listed as Trained Nurse at the Hospital.

The 1940 Federal Census for Monterey, Monterey Co., CA, District 27-33, page 700A dated May 14, 1940 records Jaynie B. Belcher (39 - VA) as a Registered Nurse assigned to the Medical Detachment - U. S. Army Presidio of Monterey California. She has completed 3 years of high school and was living in Henry Co., VA on April 1, 1935.

In the 1952 Roanoke City Directory she is listed as:
Jaynie E. Belcher nurse 920-924 S Jefferson apt 604

In the 1958 & 1960 Roanoke City Directories she is listed as:
Jaynie E. Belcher nurse Jefferson Hosp h1522 Franklin Rd SW apt 1

Jaynie is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Section 69, Grid MM 10.5, Grave Site 2869. Her birth is listed as Nov. 2, 1900 which is a few years later than her actual year of birth. A family story recalls that she lied about her age in order to qualify for the service. She is listed at the Women's Memorial (WIMSA) at the cemetery. Her service in the Army ended 3/31/1951.

As Jaynie aged, her nephew, Ben Adkins, of Richmond, VA, became more involved with her care and well being. Jaynie stayed in a selective retirement home in Northern Virginia for a number of years but eventually came to Roanoke at Friendship Manor where Ben and his wife Ruth and several of their children visited regularly.

U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006 <http://www.ancestry.com>
Name: Jaynie E Belcher
Service Info.: AR United States Army
Birth Date: 2 Nov 1900
Death Date: 1 Oct 1988
Interment Date: 5 Oct 1988
Cemetery: Arlington National Cemetery
Cemetery Address: C/O Director Arlington, VA 22211
Buried At: Section 69 Site 2869

  Noted events in her life were:

• Occupation: School teacher in Franklin Co. then became a nurse.

• Occupation: Captain - Army Nurse Corps.