Black History Month: Maggie Barefield’s 45-Year Legacy of Faith, Leadership and Service at DeTar Healthcare System
2/3/2026
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Black History Month is a time to honor the stories that shape communities — stories of perseverance, leadership, faith and service lived out not in moments, but across decades. At DeTar Healthcare System, that story is embodied in Assistant Chief Nursing Officer Maggie Barefield, whose 45-year journey reflects a life guided by compassion, discipline and unwavering faith.
Long before she ever put on a nurse’s uniform, Maggie’s foundation was built in the pews of St. Paul’s Baptist Church in Victoria. Her father served as a Baptist deacon, and Sundays were not optional — they were all-day commitments. As a teenager, Maggie didn’t just attend church; she served. She was baptized there, became secretary, superintendent of Sunday School, and learned early what it meant to show up for others.
“That’s where I learned discipline, responsibility and service,” Barefield said. “Church is where my heart for people really began.”
After graduating from Stroman High School in 1978, Barefield followed in the footsteps of her older sister, Ora, and enrolled in Victoria College’s nursing program to become a licensed vocational nurse. In 1979, she joined DeTar’s pediatric unit as a brand-new LVN.
Even then, she stood out.
“She was highly respected by physicians early in her career for her accuracy, clinical skills and kind heart,” said Heidi Wolf, chief nursing officer at DeTar. “Our pediatric unit was incredibly busy, and Maggie consistently rose to every challenge.”
Throughout the 1980s, Maggie worked full time while raising her family, rotating between pediatrics, medical-surgical and adult ICU units to both meet hospital needs and accommodate her class schedule. In 1989, she earned her registered nurse degree — a milestone that marked the beginning of a leadership path few could have imagined.
In a full-circle moment, it was then that her older sister returned to school to follow Maggie’s example and earn her RN degree as well.
“My journey has always been guided by faith,” Barefield said. “God opened doors I never thought I would walk through. I just tried to be faithful where I was planted.”
Her leadership journey accelerated when she was asked to step into the role of house supervisor, overseeing multiple departments during some of the hospital’s most challenging hours.
“She thought long and hard before accepting,” Wolf said. “But once she did, Maggie excelled. She led by example and mentored countless nurses who went on to pursue their RN degrees because of her encouragement.”
In 1999, when DeTar’s busiest and most demanding unit — 4 East — faced high turnover and low morale, leadership once again turned to Maggie.
“She was the person who handled the impossible,” Wolf said. “She rebuilt trust with physicians, stabilized the unit and cut turnover by more than half. Nurses worked incredibly hard — but they stayed because of Maggie.”
Over time, Barefield became the quiet force behind nursing operations hospital-wide. She mentored new nurse managers, standardized practices across departments and became the steady advisor leaders sought out during difficult decisions. Her roles expanded to include director of rehabilitation services, interim ICU director and ultimately assistant chief nursing officer.
“When I say she has done everything, I truly mean everything,” Wolf said.
But Maggie’s service has never been limited to hospital walls.
In the 1990s, she served on the Victoria Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and was an active member of Shades of Color, a small group of African American nurses in Victoria who met monthly for fellowship and community service. The group — often 8 to 10 nurses, many from DeTar — rotated meetings in one another’s homes, visited nursing homes to host bingo games, and organized annual Christmas fundraisers to support local community projects.
“It was about fellowship, nursing and giving back,” Barefield said. “We just wanted to serve wherever we could.”
Her faith journey continued as well. After marrying, she joined Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, where she became deeply involved with youth ministry — a passion she looks forward to expanding when she retires.
“I’ve always loved working with young people,” she said. “Once I retire, I want to spend even more time serving in the church and helping with the youth.”
In 2024, Barefield’s lifetime of impact was recognized nationally when she received the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring nurses whose careers have profoundly influenced patient care and mentorship.
“Maggie’s journey is a testament to the heart of healthcare,” Wolf said. “She has dedicated her life not only to patients, but to the people who care for them.”
For Barefield, recognition has never been the goal.
“I love serving others. Nursing isn’t just what I do — it’s who I am,” she said.
Brett Maxfield, CEO of DeTar Healthcare System, said Barefield’s legacy reflects the very values the organization strives to uphold.
“Maggie Barefield represents the heart of DeTar,” Maxfield said. “Her leadership, compassion and mentorship have touched generations of caregivers and patients. Her legacy is one of healing and hope.”
As DeTar observes Black History Month, Maggie’s story serves as a reminder that history is often written quietly — in daily acts of service, steady leadership and faith lived out over a lifetime.
“I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve had here,” Maggie said. “DeTar has been my second family, and serving this community has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.”
Maggie Barefield’s 45 Years of Service at DeTar Healthcare System
- 1979 – Joins DeTar as a new LVN on pediatrics
- 1980s – Works full time while raising her family; rotates through multiple units while attending school
- 1989 – Earns RN degree; frequently serves as charge nurse
- 1995 – Promoted to house supervisor; mentors nurses pursuing advanced education
- 1999 – Leads 4 East; oversees 100+ staff; cuts turnover by more than half
- 2000s – Mentors nurse managers; standardizes nursing practices hospital-wide
- 2010s – Serves as director of rehabilitation services and advisor to nursing leadership
- 2020s – Appointed assistant chief nursing officer; also serves as interim ICU director
- 2024 – Receives DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2025 – Honored for 45 years of service at DeTar Employee Service Awards
Community & Faith
- Baptized and served at St. Paul’s Baptist Church in Victoria
- Active member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church; dedicated to youth ministry
- Served on Victoria Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
- Member of Shades of Color (1994–2001), a fellowship group of African American nurses focused on community service
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