Kenneth Posey, chief executive officer of Jasper General Hospital in Bay Springs and a Neshoba County native, has been appointed as a county hospital trustee by the Neshoba County Board of Supervisors. He will represent District 3 on the board of Neshoba County General Hospital & Nursing Home. He replaces longtime member Marvin Page who retired after serving two decades.
Posey has over 50 years of experience in hospital administration. He is a graduate of Philadelphia High School and the University of Southern Mississippi.
From left to right: Marvin Page, past Board Chairman; his wife, Frances Page; and Hospital CEO Lonnie Graeber
Neshoba County General Hospital & Nursing Home Trustee Marvin Page was honored on January 26th during a reception, in the Pear View Café, celebrating his retirement from the Board of Trustees after 20 years of service.
Mr. Page was described as a mentor by newly appointed Board Chairman, Oliver Jolly. “Brother Marvin has always been ready to lift me up and give me the encouragement needed,” he said, “I appreciate him so much.”
A member of the hospital’s medical staff, Dr. Hilton Fairchild recalled working with Mr. Page throughout his career at the hospital as they developed their friendship over many years of service together. “He has become a dear friend to me, and I really want to look up to him as a father, but when I go home and look in the mirror I think I should be his father,” said Dr. Fairchild with a laugh.
Beth Burns, RN thanked Mr. Page for his years of service. “Thank you for all of your work, your dedication, your time and your selfless devotion,” she said.
Hospital Administrator Lonnie Graeber presented Mr. Page with a bag of steaks from Williams Brothers, recalling how Page always asked for a steak at meals in conjunction with board meetings. “When we had a bad financial month we ate hotdogs,” said Graeber, with a laugh, “but when we had a good month I would call and he always asked for a steak.”
Mr. Page was presented with gifts from friends and coworkers. The reception ended with Mr. Page thanking everyone for their comments and for putting up with him for all these years. “I’ve enjoyed 20 years of being at the hospital,”
On December 15, Neshoba County General Hospital – Nursing Home Board of Trustees and Administrative Staff, healthcare providers, hospital team members, and the County Board of Supervisors officially broke ground for their expansion and renovation project. “This was truly an exciting day for NCGH-NH, the community of Neshoba County and the entire region we serve,” stated Lonnie Graeber, chief executive officer. "We’ve been working for many years to reach a point to begin construction on the new facility, and the credit goes to our physicians, managers and employees for their hard work and dedication, and to our Board of Trustees for their unwavering support. The people of our community deserve a new hospital, said Graeber.”
“The entire community was invited to join us in our celebration of this occasion,” said Annette Watkins, director of public relations. “This day is not just about the hospital and our employees,” continued Watkins. “It’s a celebration for and about the entire community and region we serve, it’s about the future of healthcare for our community. It truly is the day we have all been waiting for. The new hospital is a project that will not only provide increased access to excellent healthcare in our community, but will stimulate the local economy by providing additional jobs both during construction and after completion of the project.”
Mr. Graeber explained the project as being a two-phase process, with Phase 1 consisting of the construction of the new facility, a two-story 52,000 square ft. addition approximately 60 feet adjacent the existing emergency department. The new building will house a new emergency room, a 4-bed ICU, 25 new state-of-the-art patient rooms, a new radiology department, new surgery suite, and a new pharmacy. The cost is $18,750,000, with $14,750,000 of that coming from hospital cash reserves and an additional $4,000,000 Capital Access Program Loan through the Mississippi Development Authority. Estimated completion of the addition is spring of 2013. Phase 2 consists of current hospital renovation with cost and timeline to be determined at a future date.
Immediately following the groundbreaking all visitors were invited to join the Trustees and hospital staff for a reception hosted by the hospital’s Dietary Department in the Pear View Café.
Neshoba County General Hospital recently welcomed Julia Ellis, MD, to its growing team of pediatric medicine providers. Janell Vinson, MD and the staff of Neshoba Pediatric Medical Clinic are pleased to announce that Dr. Ellis has joined their staff at, 1122 E. Main Street, Suite 6 Philadelphia, MS.
Dr. Ellis received her Bachelor of Arts from Yale University, New Haven Connecticut. She received her Doctor of Medicine, UMDNJ at New Jersey Medical School Newark, NJ. She completed her Pediatric Residency Program at VCM Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, VA. Dr. Ellis is a General Pediatrician.
“We are pleased that Dr. Ellis has joined the medical staff of Neshoba County General Hospital and we look forward to offering increased access to high quality medical care to the citizens of our area,” said Lonnie Graeber, Chief Executive Officer of Neshoba County General Hospital. “Our goal is to expand quality medical care services in our region of Mississippi by attracting more qualified physicians to our medical staff and installing the latest medical technology in our clinics and hospital.
Neshoba County General Hospital recently welcomed Sunil Kumar, MD, to its growing team of family medicine providers. Patrick Eakes, MD and Angie Skinner, FNPBC are pleased to announce that Dr. Kumar has joined their practice at, Neshoba Internal Medicine Clinic, 921 W. Beacon Street, Philadelphia, MS.
Dr. Kumar received his medical degree from Kasturba Medical College, Karnataka, India. He completed both his Internship and Residency at Genesys Regional Medical Centre, Grand Blanc, MI. Dr. Kumar is a Family Practice Physician, with special interest in Sports Medicine. “We are pleased that Dr. Kumar has joined the medical staff of Neshoba County General Hospital and we look forward to offering increased access to high quality medical care to the citizens of our area,” said Lonnie Graeber, Chief Executive Officer of Neshoba County General Hospital. “Our goal is to expand quality medical care services in our region of Mississippi by attracting more qualified physicians to our medical staff and installing the latest medical technology in our clinics and hospital.
On July 18th, 2011, Neshoba County General Hospital – Nursing Home announced that it has officially entered into an affiliation with Anderson Regional Medical Center. This affiliation stems from the common objective of providing compassionate, efficient and effective healthcare to the people of central Mississippi. Through mutual cooperation, the healthcare expertise, services and programs of
Anderson Regional will now be allied with the healthcare expertise, services and programs of Neshoba General in such a manner that the patients and communities served by Neshoba General and Anderson Regional can benefit from the provision of optimum healthcare services at both organizations.
“With the drastic changes in healthcare, Neshoba General’s board and management came to the conclusion that an affiliation will allow us to most effectively benefit the entire population of Neshoba County while maintaining our independence and local governance,” explains Neshoba General’s CEO Lonnie Graeber. “After considering our options for affiliation, we are excited to announce our selection of Anderson Regional Medical Center. This relationship will allow Neshoba General to be affiliated with a larger regional healthcare system with greater access to medical resources that will benefit the community that we serve.”
Ray Humphreys, President & CEO of Anderson Regional, describes the relationship in more depth, stating, “By no means are we taking over or purchasing Neshoba General. Instead, we are coming together to jointly improve healthcare for the entire central Mississippi region. At Anderson Regional, our mission is to continue our heritage of healing and improving the lives of the people we serve. Neshoba General has complementary values to Anderson Regional, and this will allow us both to fulfill our mutual goals together in the future.”
Anderson Regional Medical Center, now a 400-bed hospital after acquiring Riley Hospital, also has nine community health clinics in east Mississippi and west Alabama. Anderson Regional has the region’s only comprehensive cancer center and the area’s longest and most experienced heart surgery team. The affiliation with Neshoba General will allow Anderson Regional to continue to share its first-class healthcare resources with an ever-growing community. The affiliation between the two hospitals is effective immediately and serves as the beginning of a relationship that both CEOs see as strengthening both organizations over time.
Scottie Wallace was recently named the Employee of the Quarter for Neshoba County Hospital and Nursing Home. Scottie is well-liked and respected by all of his lab team members and the other departments that he has contact with.
Neshoba County General Hospital, Dr. Hilton Fairchild and Paula Clearman welcome Tonia Holley, CFNP, to its growing team of family medicine providers. Tonia will be working with Dr. Fairchild and Paula at Fairchild-Clearman Medical Associates, located at 1122 E. Main Street, Philadelphia, MS.
Tonia received her RN degree from Meridian Community College in 1994. She completed her BSN in 2008 at The University of Southern Mississippi. She recently received her board certification license at USM to practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She is married to Mack Holley, and together they have four children. Her hobbies include hunting, fishing and camping with family.
Tonia has been a part of the Neshoba County General Hospital team since 1992, where she began as a nurses’ aide while attending nursing school. She resigned her full-time position as Station Manager at Neshoba County Nursing Home in June of 2010, to finish her clinical hours and board certification. She continued to work part-time for the hospital from June until December, when she graduated. “We are so pleased that Tonia has decided to continue her career as part of the medical staff of Neshoba County General Hospital,” said Annette Watkins, Director of PR/Marketing for Neshoba County General Hospital and clinics.
Neshoba County General Hospital recently welcomed Jeffrey Todd Willis, MD, to its growing team of family medicine providers and announced that he will continue to practice in his current location at 1003 Holland Avenue in the Neshoba County Medical Arts Clinic, Suite 104, Philadelphia, MS.
Dr. Willis received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson in 1989. He completed an internship in 1990. He began practicing in Neshoba County in 1994. Dr. Willis previously served as our ED Director from 1997-2000 “We are so pleased that Dr. Willis has joined the medical staff of Neshoba County General Hospital and we look forward to offering increased access to high quality medical care to the citizens of our area,” said Lonnie Graeber, Chief Executive Officer of Neshoba County General Hospital. “Our goal is to expand quality medical care services in our region of Mississippi by attracting more qualified physicians to our medical staff and installing the latest medical technology in our clinics and hospital.
Current patients of Dr. Willis are encouraged to contact his office to ensure that there is no change in their services and medical care. Dr. Willis’ office will be open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday – Thursday and alternate Friday mornings 8:00 am until 11:00 am. To receive additional information contact his office @ 601-656-0010, or visit www.neshobageneral.com.
