July 30, 1933 – June 15, 2026
Eva “Ginger” Williamson Sullivan, J.D. was born on July 30, 1933, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to Catherine Caesar and James Williamson. She was a noted attorney, global health, civil health administrator and civil rights advocate and champion of the arts. She died on June 15, 2026 at her home in Atlanta. She was 92 years old.
She attended Cranville Elementary School and Pittsfield High School. In 1955, Sullivan received her B.A. degree from Northeastern University. She received her J.D. degree from Woodrow Wilson College of Law in the 1970s. While attending Northeastern University, Sullivan was a hepatic research technician at Yale School of Medicine. In 1958, she moved to New York, where she worked as a medical assistant.
Sullivan later joined Massachusetts General Hospital as a cardiovascular researcher. An active member of Christ Church in Boston, Massachusetts, she helped plan the church’s trip to attend the March on Washington in 1963. Sullivan clerked for Fulton County Superior Court Judge Clarence Cooper during the 1970s and 1980s
While her husband, Dr. Louis Wade Sullivan, MD, served as dean and president of Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), she served as the first lady of the school during pivotal years in the institution’s history and helped strengthen its foundation through dedicated service and leadership. In 1976, she founded The Friends of Morehouse School of Medicine, Inc., leading efforts that supported student scholarships and expanded opportunities for future healthcare leaders.
A distinguished attorney and advocate for public health, civil rights and the arts, Sullivan devoted her life to uplifting others and advancing causes that improved communities.
Sullivan was the founder and co-sponsor of the Sullivan 5K Run/Walk Road Race for Health and Fitness on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. She had served on the boards of the High Museum of Art, the Alliance Theatre, True Colors Theatre in Atlanta, Wolf Trap, the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C., and the Arthritis Foundation of Georgia, and was a strong supporter of Medical Education for South African Blacks (MESAB) and Africare. Sullivan was active in the Atlanta community as a member of the Buckhead Cascade Chapter of Links, Inc., and served as an auxiliary to the Atlanta Medical Association and the National Medical Association.
Note that her husband, Dr. Louis Wade Sullivan, MD, was president of Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) for more than two decades and was secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from 1989 to 1993, appointed in 1988 by former President George H. W. Bush. On July 1, 2002, he retired and was appointed president emeritus of MSM. He had served as a spokesperson for the National Cancer Institute on the early detection and treatment of breast and prostate cancers in 1989.
During the time that her husband served as secretary of U. S. Department of HHS in Washington, D. C.,, Mrs. Sullivan served on the White House fellows selection panel and led efforts to bring healthier food options to federal agency cafeterias.
Her impact on Morehouse School of Medicine and countless lives will be remembered with deep gratitude.
Sullivan is survived by her husband, Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, MD, and their children Paul, Shanta and Halsted.
The Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) will join the Sullivan family, friends, colleagues and guest in celebrating her extraordinary life and legacy on Saturday, August 1, 2026. MSM will announce the establishment of the Eva “Ginger” Sullivan Endowed Scholarship, honoring her lifelong dedication to expanding educational opportunities and investing in future generations of healthcare leaders. The event will take place on Saturday, August 1, 2025 at 11:00 am at the Calvin Smyre Education Conference Center on the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) campus, 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30310. The service will be livestreamed at: https://youtube.com/live/lYxe1dS8iL4?feature=share.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Mrs. Sullivan’s legacy are invited to contribute to the Eva “Ginger” Sullivan Endowed Scholarship. Donate here: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/61105/donations/new?aft=9ca196822356a768eb1ca281e936a4e9.
We extend our sincere condolences to Dr. Louis Sullivan, their family and all who were touched by her remarkable life and legacy of service, compassion, and dedication to public health and the arts.
About Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM)
Founded in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is among the nation’s leading educators of primary care physicians, biomedical scientists and public health professionals. An independent and private historically Black medical school, MSM was recognized by the Annals of Internal Medicine as the nation’s number one medical school in fulfilling a social mission — the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice. MSM faculty and alumni are noted for excellence in teaching, research and public policy, as well as exceptional patient care. MSM is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award doctoral and master’s degrees. To learn more about MSM programs and donate to MSM today, please visit MSM.edu or call (404) 752-1500.
Last updated on July 24, 2026
