Levonda Goodson operates under the belief that to provide compassionate affordable healthcare, you have to look at the whole person.
“People are not thinking about their blood pressure if they don’t know how they’re going to feed their family or get their children to school,” said Goodson, CEO of Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center in Ocala. “If a person’s basic needs aren’t being addressed, it’s very difficult to make meaningful progress on any type of chronic health condition.”
September is Healthy Aging Month, and, as a licensed practical nurse, Goodson believes affordable healthcare helps people live longer, especially those living in underserved communities.
The nonprofit health center recently hosted its third annual Taste of the Town at the Ocala Downtown Market. The event helps raise money to provide more affordable healthcare.
Attendees listened to live music by Jeff Jarrett and enjoyed food samples from 26 local food vendors including The Fiery Chef, Graffiti Seafood and More, Mellow Mushroom Pizza and Cantina.
“We don’t just want to see people when they’re sick,” Goodson said. “We want to be present in the community and this allows us to do that. The $50 ticket helps cover a new patient visit, as well as a portion of a follow-up visit, or a visit and all of their labs.”
Along with offering a variety of services including comprehensive primary care, annual health check-ups, preventative care screenings and transportation services, the Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center works with community partners such as Community Action Stops Abuse Marion, AdventHealth Ocala and the Early Learning Coalition of Marion County to address the greater needs of patients.
“Our providers work first to build a relationship with the patients who entrust their care to us every day,” Goodson said. “We must understand the challenges they’re facing and if we can’t meet that immediate need, we connect them with our community partners to help address barriers wherever possible.”
Cynthia Wilson-Graham, board chair of the health center understands the importance of the Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center.
“There are seasons in life when you may not have all the answers — or even know what tomorrow will bring,” she said. “When I was between jobs and needed medical care, the Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center was there for me. It showed me that access to healthcare is not just about treating an illness, it is about giving people hope, dignity and a place to turn when they need it most.”
The health center was awarded Nonprofit of the Year in 2025 by the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County and received a $650,000 federal grant when it was classified as a Federally Qualified Health Center last month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its status means it can provide comprehensive primary care and preventive services to underserved areas regardless of a patient’s ability to pay or insurance status.
The center is more than just a health center to Ocala resident Carolyn Adams. It’s a dream, a promise and a family legacy, which she named after her grandmother, Estella Bryd Whitman.
Adams, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida’s College of Nursing in 1972 and 1973 respectivley, said it was also the support she received in school that led her to open the center.
“I remember my grandmother saying, ‘Walk with your shoulders high, stay focused on what you’re trying to do and know you’re gonna get there regardless,’” she said. “I also had the entire college of nursing — especially two professors — who really embraced me. Fifty years after I graduated with my masters, the two individuals continue to support me and have donated to the clinic on an annual basis.”
For more information about the Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center, visit ebwchc.org.
