Early Life

Lottie Isabel Blake was born on June 10, 1876 in Apottomax, Virginia. Her parents were Thomas and Fanny Isabel. Thomas was a carpenter and Fanny helped to establish the Union Grove Baptist Church. Originally Baptists, Lottie, her sister Mamie, and her mom Fanny, decided to convert to Seventh Day Adventists.

Education

After high school, Lottie went on to receive a degree in teaching. Although she had a teaching degree, she began working at Battle Creek Sanitarium as a nurse. Dr. John Harvey Kellogg became her mentor and encouraged her to go to medical school.

In 1902, at 26 years old, Lottie became the first African American Seventh Day Adventist to become a physician.

Early Career

Initially, Blake's work began in the southern United States. However, she had always dreamed of going to Africa and becoming a missionary.

After a year of working in Tennessee, she was called to work at Oakwood University. During this time, she met her husband David Blake, who was a minister and physician.

The couple then, moved to Panama. While David was practicing medicine on the natives, Lottie focused on training their children and running a school for wealthy families.