Artist with a passion for travel commits bequest to establish scholarship
Gerda Carmichael believed the world was meant to be explored. Born in 1930 to French and German immigrant parents in the heart of New York City, Carmichael knew the importance of hard work. Her family didn’t always have much, but with dreams of traveling the world, Carmichael’s parents taught her the importance of education—and that through her studies, the world was hers to see.
After living overseas, Carmichael found her way to Birmingham, where she met and married Josiah Carmichael, a prominent OBGYN at UAB. His career led Josiah and Gerda across the ocean—to the Amazon rainforest and the beaches of St. Lucia—where he partnered with other physicians to provide medical care to those in need.
To honor Josiah’s dedication to medicine, Gerda committed a bequest in her will to the Heersink School of Medicine to establish the Dr. Josiah and Gerda Carmichael Endowed Scholarship in Medicine.
“Towards the end of my mom’s life, she had the means and wanted to make sure that those with financial need were given opportunities,” Gerda’s daughter Maria Calhoun said.
Art was Carmichael’s abiding passion. She grew to become an art teacher and artist, specializing in stained glass mosaics and crafting jewelry in silver. Her continued thirst for knowledge and culture led her to the corners of the globe, where she raised Calhoun in the museums of France, in the mangroves of India, and in the shadows of the pyramids of Egypt.
But Gerda was more than an adventurer and artist. Because she knew what it was like to come from nothing, she believed in giving back and helping pave the way for others to achieve their dreams. Gerda became a passionate philanthropist, donating to the symphony; knitting blankets, socks, and hats for children in need; and creating the endowed scholarship, ensuring Heersink medical students can pursue education without added financial strain.
Once the Dr. Josiah and Gerda Carmichael Endowed Scholarship in Medicine is awarded, this endowed scholarship will serve as a lasting resource to help students as they pursue careers in medicine, a tribute to both Josiah’s career and Gerda’s unwavering belief in the power of education.
Through her legacy gift, Gerda ensured that students with a hunger for knowledge and drive to serve have the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Although Gerda passed away in December 2024 at the age of 94, her journey continues in the lives of the students she will help for generations to come.
To learn more about giving to medical scholarships, contact Erica Hollins at 205-996-6839 or