Ruth Henley (1905-1983) was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to John Willis Henley (1852-1928) and Catherine Henley (1863-1934). Ruth Henley became a nurse at Piedmont Hospital in 1926 after her graduation from the Piedmont Hospital School of Nursing. During her tenure, she served as head nurse of the Obstetrics Unit, director of the nursing education program, and president of the Piedmont Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association. During World War II, Henley was commissioned as a captain in the United States Army and coordinated the Cadet Nursing Program for the Southeast region. She also served as president of the Georgia League of Nurses from 1946-1948 and 1956-1958. In 1969, she wrote One Boundless Reach, a history of the Georgia League of Nurses. Her second book, Sanatorium to Medical Center: A History of the Piedmont Hospital, was published posthumously in 1984. Ruth Henley's father, John Willis Henley, served as Fulton County Assistant District Attorney from 1905 until his death in 1928. He was an active member of the Atlanta Bar Association and the Woodward Baptist Church. John and Catherine had nine other children: Colonel John Ralph Henley (1883-1971), James Bates Henley (1886-1938), Stephen Clay Henley (1888-1968), Weldon Henley (1889-1960), Stanton Henley (1891-1968), Thomas Henley (1894-1952), Jessie W. Henley (1897-1980), Frank Henley (1901-1956), and Grace Henley (1907-1974).