The History of West Alabama Women’s Center
Did you know that nestled in the heart of Tuscaloosa is one of the largest abortion businesses in the entire Southeastern United States? This massive killing center is just a few miles away from where we live, work, and play. In fact, you may even drive by there daily without even knowing what it is or what is going on.
West Alabama Women’s Center (WAWC) is located along Jack Warner Parkway in the Riverside Office Complex. The clinic originally opened in 1993. The property (building included) was purchased in 1995 by Gray & Payne Reality. Since then, multiple lawsuits have been filed against this abortion business. In 2014, WAWC sued the State Health Officer of Alabama, Mr. Donald Williamson after he determined that Dr. Willie Parker was not certified to perform abortions due to lack of admitting privileges at a local hospital.
West Alabama Women’s Center mostly performs first trimester abortions, although it is one of the two abortion clinics in the State licensed to perform second trimester abortions. Over the past four years, WAWC has provided nearly 40% of all abortions in Alabama. Furthermore, in 2014 WAWC performed an astounding 60% of all abortions in the State. WAWC “serves” primarily low-income women who come not only from Alabama but also from Mississippi, Tennessee, and multiple other states.
In 1993, Mrs. Gloria Gray co-founded and has since operated West Alabama Women’s Center. Over her years of ownership, Gray has been involved in multiple altercations with peaceful protesters at WAWC. In 2007 she was arrested outside her own building and charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly threatening pro-life activists who were peacefully holding signs on public property close to West Alabama Women’s Center.
For the first 21 years of business, Dr. Louis Payne was the sole doctor at West Alabama Women’s Center. Dr. Payne is a native of Jasper, Alabama and received his college education at Birmingham Southern College. He then went on to receive his medical training at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham. Dr. Payne was Board Certified by The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1972.
He began practicing in Tuscaloosa in 1969 and practiced as an OB-GYN physician at West Alabama Women’s Center until 2014. Dr. Payne retired from West Alabama Women’s Center in December of 2014, but came out of retirement in August of 2015 because no doctor had been found to replace him. Since then, Dr. Payne has returned to killing babies instead of retiring and continues to maintain his staff privileges at Druid City Regional Medical Center and Health South Surgical Center.
For awhile, Dr. Willie Parker worked part time at West Alabama Women’s Center. Dr. Parker is a self described reproductive justice advocate, as well as an OB-GYN. He has served in several capacities throughout his career, most notably killing babies through abortion all over the United States, but spending a significant amount of time in Southeast. He has “served” as abortionist in Jackson, MS, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and Huntsville, AL, just to name a few.
In 2014, West Alabama Women’s Center sued the State Health Officer of Alabama, Mr. Donald Williamson, after he determined that Dr. Willie Parker was not certified to perform abortions due to lack of admitting privileges at a local hospital (based on HB 57) . By August 17, 2015, U.S. District Court Judge Myron Thompson issued a restraining order against the law, paving the way for Dr. Parker to freely work at West Alabama Women’s Center.
In 2012 the Alabama Department of Public Health began releasing statistics on the number of abortions performed each year by abortion facilities (or locations) in the state of Alabama. From 2012-2018 (the latest year statistics are available), West Alabama Women’s Center, with Dr. Payne as the primary physician, has reportedly killed 22,907 babies.
Now, let’s do a little math.
Year- Babies killed at West Alabama Women’s Center
2012- 3503
2013-3600
2014-4725
2015-1221
2016-3339
2017-3148
2018-3371
Total-22,907 babies killed/ 7 years = average 3272 killed yearly 2012-2018
Since West Alabama Women’s Center has been opened a full 26 years (1993-2018), we can conservatively estimate that:
If, on average, 3272 babies were killed each year x 26 years = 85,072 babies lives have been destroyed since 1993 by Dr. Louis Payne, Gloria Gray, and a few others who help occasionally, like Dr. Willie Parker.
Alabama’s Bryant Denny Stadium holds 101, 821 people. It is conservatively estimated that West Alabama Women’s Center has killed at least 85,072 people. That is like wiping out 83% of the people at an University of Alabama Football game.
In fact, Tuscaloosa County has, on average, a higher abortion rate per year than birth rate. This means that typically more babies are killed in Tuscaloosa County each year than are born alive.
Let that sink in.
One location, over 85,000 babies killed in 26 years. Add in another couple of years to get us current (official numbers are not out yet for 2019 & 2020) and as of 2020, the estimated number of babies killed at West Alabama Women’s Center since it opened is more likely close to 91,616. People, that is pushing 100,000 babies torn apart or somehow killed at West Alabama Women’s Center in Tuscaloosa!
So, why does this matter and why should you care? As you can see, according to the (previous) “laws” in Alabama (and the United States), West Alabama Women’s Center is a legitimate business where highly train doctors are performing what they consider to be a “medical procedure.”
But, just because something is socially acceptable does not make it right. This is the root of the problem. It is impossible to have a “legitimate business” if it promotes (no matter the age or stage of life) killing people. And furthermore, being “trained/certified” does not give someone a “license” to take another’s life.
Even worse, is that this taking of a life is in exchange for money. If money is not a issue here, and they really want to “help” women, then why are they not doing it for free, possibly even providing free travel and accommodations, so as to really help out all the women in poverty who “need” the abortions?
Do you have any idea how much West Alabama Women’s Center (WAWC) charges to “terminate” the life of a baby?
As of February 2017 the price of a life at WAWC was:
6 weeks: $450 (vacuum suction procedure) or $550 (the abortion inducing pill)
9 weeks: $450 (surgical procedure)
13 weeks: $600 (Surgical procedure)
14 weeks: $700 (Surgical Procedure)
15 weeks: $800 (Surgical Procedure)
18/19 weeks: $1400 Surgical procedure
The problem here is not political, it is moral, and we fully acknowledge Dr. Parker would disagree with us here. Abortion is wrong because it violates God’s moral standards revealed in His Word.
Our culture has become desensitized to death and has been trained to look out for one’s own self first. But every human life matters (no matter how big or small) and we must consider others ahead of ourselves even if it will be hard, uncomfortable, painful, awkward, or inconvenient. We fully acknowledge that unplanned pregnancies are often hard situations, but real help, the kind that helps both the mom AND the baby, is available.
If you have had enough of this culture of death that is disgracing our city, then please take a look at the different ways you can get involved and prayerfully consider taking a stand for Life in Tuscaloosa.And, if you happen to be reading this, but find yourself not quite agreeing with all we have said, please go here for further clarification of what we are about.
May 15, 2019 -Governor Kay Ivey signed into law The Alabama Human Life Protection Act.
On May 15, 2019, Governor Kay Ivey signed into law The Alabama Human Life Protection Act. The law makes it a felony for a doctor to perform an abortion. The woman would not be criminally liable. The law includes an exception to allow abortions in cases of serious health risks to the woman. Click here to read it in it’s entirety.
Update August 2020
In May 2020, owner Gloria Gray retired and sold West Alabama Women’s Center to Yellowhammer Fund, a non-profit, reproductive rights advocacy organization. A couple months later, long time abortionist Dr. Louis Payne also retired and was replaced by radical abortionist Leah N. Torres.
Incredibly, one of the reasons that Gloria Gray gave for selling West Alabama Women’s Center to retire was “I wanted to enjoy my grandchildren.”
To find out more about the current abortion situation in Tuscaloosa, please click here.
Former Tuscaloosa Abortionist Surrenders Medical License During Investigation
November 1, 2020
Dr. Louis T. Payne, 81 year old former abortionist at West Alabama Women’s Center in Tuscaloosa, voluntarily surrendered his medical license during an investigation by the Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners.
A complaint was made to the Alabama Medical Board in the fall of 2019 when witnesses saw him going into work while his arm looked to be immobilized by his side, as in a sling or harness. Considering he was the only abortionist in Tuscaloosa at the time, questions were raised as to how Payne could safely do abortions with only one healthy arm. Other complaints have also been made against Payne, including his repeatedly taking a dog into West Alabama Women’s Center.
As of October 21, 2020, Payne is no longer authorized to practice medicine in Alabama.
April Lowery Autopsy Report
dated January 14, 2021
Click here for the PDF autopsy report for April Lowery, the woman who was killed when her uterus was perforated at West Alabama Women’s Center in Tuscaloosa on May 7, 2020. At the time, the abortionist was Dr. Louis Payne, who retired shortly after her death.
Click here for 2020-2022 West Alabama Women’s Center history.