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Honoring Legacy, Restoring Access, and Rebuilding Hope in East Texas

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A Historic Landmark Reborn

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The Frenchmon & Nettie M. Pippins Wellness Center proudly announces the restoration of one of Longview’s most historically significant landmarks—the Old Camp Normal Industrial Hospital. Constructed in 1939, Dr. William Mitchell operated here to serve Black residents during an era of segregation, this building once stood as a refuge against the inequities of the time. It provided care, dignity, and medical relief to African American families who were routinely denied proper treatment elsewhere. Today, Eddie and Chaplain Patti Towles continue to carry the tradition of this historic property to preserve its legacy and continue its original mission of providing access, healing, and hope to underserved communities across Longview and East Texas.

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A Legacy Rooted in Personal History

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The naming of the Wellness Center carries deeply personal significance.  Chaplain Patti Towles is the daughter of Frenchmon Pippins, a United States Army veteran whose life and legacy helped shape the mission of this organization. In 1973, when Frenchmon was evaluated at Camp Normal Industrial Hospital, Dr. William Mitchell correctly diagnosed him with a broken neck. His story reflects the critical historical role that Camp Normal played in providing skilled medical care to Black residents during a time when few other options existed. Today, the Wellness Center honors his name and legacy, transforming his memory into a source of healing, dignity, and renewed purpose for the East Texas community.

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Restoring History With a Modern Mission

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The Frenchmon & Nettie M. Pippins Wellness Center, a fully accredited nonprofit organization, functions as a comprehensive health and social service navigation hub. The Center builds upon the foundation laid by Dr. Mitchell by offering modern services such as health navigation, medical referrals, housing support, food access programs, transportation assistance, mental health resources, employment and education pathways, legal aid connections, and ongoing case management. Through a network of licensed Medical Directors, hospitals, nonprofits, schools, and community organizations, the Center ensures that families receive the guidance they need to overcome barriers and achieve stability.

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Continuing Dr. Mitchell’s Vision

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The restoration of Camp Normal represents the merging of past and present—a renewed effort to uphold Dr. Mitchell’s commitment to serving those too often overlooked. Just as the hospital once provided critical care to Black residents during segregation, the Wellness Center now provides a centralized hub for resources, referrals, and support for all who need it. The Center’s sliding-scale intake model, organizational membership program, and data-driven outcomes further strengthen its ability to deliver sustainable and equitable services. By integrating health, housing, food, transportation, benefits, and workforce support, the facility stands as a modern extension of the healing work that began within its walls more than 80 years ago.

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A New Era for Longview and East Texas

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Under the stewardship of Eddie andChaplain Patti Towles, the Old Camp Normal Industrial Hospital will once again serve as a place of healing, dignity, and community advancement. The Frenchmon & Nettie M. Pippins Wellness Center transforms this landmark into a living tribute—honoring a daughter’s father, uplifting a community’s history, and ensuring that every person who walks through its doors is met with care, compassion, and opportunity. Through this restoration, the legacy of Frenchmon Pippins and Dr. William Mitchell will continue to impact generations, creating a future where access to wellness is a right, not a privilege, for all of Longview and East Texas.