Grace M. Eaton/Grace M. Eaton Dayhome

Grace M. Eaton was born on May 6, 1866, in Wakefield, Mass. She was affiliated with the "Woman's American Baptist Home Society" which founded the Fireside School, an organization dedication to the uplift of Blacks, epically in the South. Eaton came to Nashville in 1911 with Joanna P. Moore to assist in the opening of a Fireside School. She used her resources to open the first day care facility for African-American children. Eaton died on Aug. 18, 1946. Her funeral was held two days later at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church (Black). At Eaton's request, her body was buried in Greenwood Cemetery. continued: Grace M. Eaton Day Home - Founded in 1926, this day care agency was named in honor of Grace M. Eaton, a white Baptist missionary. Lizzie Kelley, a black probation officer of the juvenile court and a Fireside School member, proposed a day home for black children of working mothers. Eaton sold her Mass. farm, rented a house at 612 Gay Street, and opened a day home for black children. Later, a new site was bought at 1402 Jo Johnston. In 1939, the Eaton Day Home moved to 505 17th Ave., No. The child care facility also housed a medical clinic. In 1976, the day home moved to this locale, the former side of the YWCA's Blue Triangle branch.