Campagne Negrel

Maria Négrel, born Samat, is a little known character in the history of our town. However, she shone through her dedication to the service of Aubagnais and played a key role in the life of the most famous of Aubagnais. Maria Samat was born on June 16, 1870 in the hamlet of La Valentine in Saint-Savournin. At the age of 19, she entered the Faculty of Medicine in Marseille and already stood out for her courage as she agreed to treat young mothers suffering from smallpox. She also had the misfortune of catching this disease which had no vaccine at the time. Finally, she obtained her title of first class midwife at the Faculty of Medicine in Montpellier. Maria Samat became Maria Négrel after her marriage to a hatmaker from Aubagne who owned a shop at the corner of rue de la République and rue Peypagan. In 1913, Maria founded the Comité des Dames Aubagnaises, attached to the Red Cross. During the First World War, she was an unfailing supporter of Dr. Fallen at the auxiliary hospital No. 215, especially during the serious epidemic of Spanish flu that raged between 1918 and 1919. Her dedication was honoured by numerous awards, including the Legion of Honour in 1952. At a time when it was common to give birth at home, midwives went to women's homes to help them give birth. On 28 February 1895, Maria Négrel was called to 16 cours Barthélemy to deliver the wife of a teacher from the Lakanal school who had just arrived from La Ciotat. The newborn, a boy, was given the name Marcel Paul and of course took his father's surname, Joseph Pagnol. Marcel Pagnol would not see Maria Négrel again until summer 1937, during the shooting of Regain in downtown Aubagne. A strong friendship would unite them until Maria's death on February 9th, 1953.