My name is Vivian Elaine Whitfield-Mack; I was born on Sept. 5, 1953 to William and Mary Whitfield. My fathers’ job
relocated him to Ohio when I was 2 years of age. I got sick while in Ohio. That is when my mother found out that I had Sickle
Cell. My brother, who was 15 years old, also had Sickle Cell, but at the time my mother did not know why he was sick all the
time.
My family moved back to Atlanta, and brought all my medical paper with us. My mother took me to Grady Hospital with all
my medical paper work from Ohio. Grady is where I received all my treatments as a child.
When I started school in the kindergarten at Lena Jean Campbell. I was sick all the time, and had to miss school a lot.
I attended G. W. Carver High School and graduated in 1971, with honors. I did not continue my education at that time.
I got a job with the Board of Education City of Atlanta. I worked for about 3 or 4 months, and was advised that they had
to lay off some of the workers that were just hired. My health failed me at that time, so I was one of the people let go.
About a year later I was rehired with the Board of Education. After working about 2 years. I started going to college at
night. I attended then Atlanta JR. College, now known as Atlanta Metro College. I had completed about a year and a half, when
I changed jobs.
I got a job with the State of GA. Dept. of Corrections. I had to quit going to school due to my work schedule changing
all the time. I was not told that I had to rotate shifts. I worked for about a year and a half; I got married and moved to
Kansas with my husband who was in the Army.
I lived in Kansas until my husband was sent to Germany, at which time I returned to Atlanta, and I was with Child. My son
was born on June 23, 1982. When Cedric was six months old I went back to work for the Stated of GA. For about a year. My husband
was relocated to Hinesville GA.
Once again I was required to leave employment with the State of Georgia, to move with my husband. I lived in Hinesville
GA. for about two years.
I kept in touch with some of my co-workers; and they told me about a position that would be open soon. Again I was rehired
with the State of GA, working at Metro Transitional Center, I was at that location for about a year, and then transferred
to the Probation Division. Where I am still employed.
