Hospice of Davidson County is now Alderwood of Davidson County, but our team, our heart, and our promise remain exactly the same. about our transition.

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Our History

A Legacy of Presence

Our organization’s story didn’t begin in a boardroom; it began with a pocketful of change and a caring heart for the community.

In the early 1980s, a small group of local visionaries—including Dr. Lee Jessup, Dr. Lee Dukes, Lois Jean Query and Dr. David Smith—recognized a profound need for a different kind of care in Davidson County. Thus was born: Hospice of Davidson County.

From that humble beginning, volunteers like George Owen and Jane Whitehurst spent three years lobbying and advocating, fueled by the simple, powerful belief that every life deserves compassion, dignity, and connection.

Newspaper picture of a sign in a field that says "Future Site of Henry Etta and Bruce Hinkle Hospice House" with a picture of the Hospice House architectural rendering.

It took courage, faith, and community spirit to turn an idea into a mission.

Cole Warner,
Community Connections Podcast

Early construction phase of the Hinkle Hospice House, with the roof structure and weather barrier installed, surrounded by bare red clay and construction vehicles on site.

Forty Years of Meaningful Moments

Incorporated in 1984, we welcomed our first patient in 1985. At the time, hospice was a new concept in America, but our founders knew that care at the end of life should be about more than medicine—it should be about honoring a person’s story.

Over the decades, our history has translated into deep-seated expertise. We built Davidson County’s only hospice inpatient unit, the Henry Etta & Bruce Hinkle Hospice House, and expanded our reach to become the local leader in serious illness innovation.

Alderwood logo, a medical cross made of interwoven leaves in teal and rust red.

The Evolution of Alderwood

As we look ahead, we carry the dedication of our predecessors with us. Our history informs our future: we continue to evolve because our community’s needs are evolving. Today, as Alderwood of Davidson County, we provide an expanded array of care encompassing all levels of serious illness and ensuring that the same high standards that inspired our founders in 1983 remain at the heart of everything we do.

Close-up image of microphone in podcast studio.

COmmunity connections podcast

Discover the Stories Behind Our Legacy

Our history is best told by the people who lived it. Listen to our special podcast series, More Meaningful Moments—40 Years of Compassionate Care, celebrating the people, stories, and legacy that have shaped our mission for four decades.

Listen to the Podcast