When the baby granddaughter of Ellen McGehee Cavert and Tillman Cavert died soon after birth because Wolfson Children’s Hospital did not have the proper equipment to save her, the Caverts took action.
Twins Abbie and Annie Cavert were born prematurely. Annie survived, but Abbie didn’t.
Ellen Cavert, with her friends, formed The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital in 1973 to raise money for equipment and the hospital’s needs.
The board started a fundraising event in 1976 and the next year, the first Antiques Show was held. The 35th show will be Thursday-Sunday at the Osborn Center, including the glamorous Thursday night opening party. The Caverts haven’t missed an opening night party yet.
This year’s Art & Antiques Show, with the theme Deco & Diamonds, will benefit the new Larry J. Freeman Behavioral Health Center at Wolfson. Freeman retired as the hospital administrator a year ago after 34 years in the role.
Tillman and Ellen Cavert have been married 71 years. “He’s my everything,” Ellen Cavert said during an interview last week at their home.
The oldest of five children of Jacksonville’s McGehee family, Ellen Cavert met her future husband while attending the Ward-Belmont College finishing school in Nashville. He was a law student in Lebanon, Tenn., and they met at a dance.
Ellen broke their first date, but they saw each other at a dance a year later. He cut in on the dance floor and that was that. They married Oct. 19, 1940.
Tillman Cavert, 95, and Ellen Cavert, 91, raised four children, who provided them with 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
“Losing that baby changed our whole way of life,” said Ellen Cavert.
They reflected on the Women’s Board and its activities, including the Art & Antiques Show.
“I thought about getting people together to help sick babies,” she said.
She gathered some friends and they met at the hospital.
“I just told them what we needed and it took off,” she said. “Anything we asked anybody for, they just gave it to us. Anything at any time.”
The board has about 400 members and also produces the Florida Forum Speaker Series, now in its 20th season.
“It is a major accomplishment that I think probably will leave a legacy to this community,” said Tillman Cavert of the board.
“The good Lord did this project from Day One.”
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