PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The Bay Pines VA has long been known for its prominence in Tampa Bay and the historic land that it sits on.

But there’s at least one untold story there a local veteran is determined to make sure is preserved and shared with everyone he can reach.

It’s a story detailing the career of a woman who was the first African American employee to work at the VA. It’s a story that’s been sitting on a shelf for decades.

What You Need To Know

John Makas learning about the life of Deotha Parsons

Parsons was the first African American employee to work at the VA

Makas trying to track sown any family members of the late Parsons

When it comes to history at the Bay Pines VA, there isn’t much you can get past John Makas.

“There’s all kinds of stuff in here from Bay Pines from years back. Newspaper articles. All kinds of history of the buildings,” Makas said.

He’s a hospital coordinator for the disabled American veterans and a regular at the VA’s small portable library.

“I was fortunate enough to come over here one day and ask a few questions because they were talking about moving this library and getting it digitally enhanced,” he said. “And I said oh wow, there’s the book.”

He said this was a book he had seen repeatedly.

About six months ago he finally opened it up. Page after page, he learned more and more about the life of Deotha Parsons. She had a storied career as a hospital assistant and the first African American employee at Bay Pines VA.

The treasure trove also included a signed note wishing her well from the late Congressman, C.W. Bill Young, long before the facility was named the C. W. Bill Young Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center.

“It’s amazing when you think back at the time when she came here, how difficult it must have been, not only to be in that type of an environment when you’re just out of segregation and you’re having to travel god knows how far to get her to the job to go to work,” Makas said.

The old newspaper clippings detail how she nursed veterans from the Spanish American War, the two World Wars, the Koren War and the Vietnam War.

“Imagine what an impact it would’ve been to actually meet her,” he said. “To sit down and talk to her. Imagine what that would’ve been like. I get goosebumps thinking about it.”

It’s why Makas is on a mission, looking for ways to preserve the book, its pages and everything inside of it.

“The VA doesn’t have the capabilities to do it here locally. And to be quite honest with you, I’m scared to send it out somewhere because I’m afraid some of it won’t come back,” he said.

But he said it’s not his call to make. He’s hoping by sharing the story of Deotha or Dee as she was often called, someone will come forward to help preserve the pages of this book.

Makas also wants to find family members or people who knew Deotha.

An article in the book says she died in 1995 at the age of 84. She didn’t have kids, but she had a church family at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in St. Pete. still around to this day.

Makas said he’s hoping with that information this untold story can get in the hands of those once close to her and remind them of her life and legacy.