River Oaks Hospital and Woman's Hospital announce 2009 Volunteer of the Year
(From L-R) Mary Lynn Davis, Coordinator of Guest Services and the Volunteer Auxiliary; Cleo Bailey, Volunteer of the Year
River Oaks Hospital and Woman’s Hospital recently honored their most outstanding volunteer by hosting a special recognition luncheon. Receiving votes from her peers, Cleo Bailey was awarded volunteer of the year for 2009. Ms. Bailey has volunteered at the hospitals for thirteen years and has 4,100 volunteer hours.
Mary Lynn Davis, Coordinator of Guest Services and the Volunteer Auxiliary, described Ms. Bailey as faithful and cheerful. “She always has a sweet smile on her face and converses very easily with patients. She listens to patients and offers words of encouragement.”
Ms. Bailey also serves as corresponding secretary for the volunteer auxiliary. In this role she sends out thank-you notes to program speakers, as well as notes and cards to volunteers who are sick or going through times of grief.
In addition to her many duties as volunteer, Ms. Bailey leads a very full life away from the hospital. She has two sons, two daughters, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She also teaches Sunday school and has done so for the past forty years. She is a member of and teaches at Bethel Baptist Church. Her hobbies include gardening, cooking and spending time with other senior adults.
Friends of MSH name 2009-2010 board of directors
Pictured are the 2009-2010 Friends of the Mississippi State Hospital Board of Directors and Officers, (back row, l to r) Jaquith Nursing Home Director Marc Lewis, Bobby Stephens, Shane Hariel, Benny Hubbard, President Ray Wallace, MSH Director James Chastain, Bradley Sanders, MSH Public Relations Director Kathy Denton, (front row, l to r) Secretary Sheila Shows, Miriam Hollens, Jeannie Pittman, Mary Crossman, Nancy Kemp, Jerald Ball and Vice-President Bill Bobbs. Board members not pictured are Treasurer Dee Payne, Bridget Lowery and Joel Ross.
At its annual meeting held on Wednesday, August 26, the Friends of the Mississippi State Hospital voted in officers and board members for the 2009-2010 year. Founded in 1987, Friends of Mississippi State Hospital, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the work of Mississippi State Hospital (MSH) and informing the public of mental illness and the needs of the mentally ill.
Friends donates 100 percent of its funds to support events and programs that enrich the lives of MSH patients, individuals served in the community, Jaquith Nursing Home residents and employees. Their annual events include a fishing rodeo, an Independence Day fireworks celebration and recognition for MSH patients and employees. Friends is made up of MSH staff members, local civic groups, businesses and patients’ family members.
Hospital Auxilian of the Quarter honored
The Singing River Hospital Auxiliary has named Susan Heidelberg as this quarter’s Auxilian of the Quarter. She has been an Auxilian since 1991, working in the Emergency Department, Pediatrics and Information. She has been President of the organization four times.
Heidelberg was raised in Ocean Springs, attending Ocean Springs High School. She worked as a secretary for a real estate office for about 10 years before taking time off to have children in 1982. She is married to Michael Heidelberg, president of the SRHS Board of Trustees and self-employed realtor appraiser. They live in Pascagoula and have two children, Charlotte Stark and Michael Heidelberg, Jr.
Along with the Auxiliary, Heidelberg is also involved in various other community groups. She is president of the Magnolia Garden Guild and is a member of the Anola Club and First Baptist Church.
Heidelberg said being a part of the Auxiliary is something that she has always enjoyed. “I enjoy being around everyone and visiting with them,” she explained. “I enjoy helping everyone that I can.”
She enjoys the social aspect of the Auxiliary and staying active. Heidelberg believes volunteers are important in making sure everything in the Hospital runs smoothly. “Volunteers are very necessary to help in all areas,” she said.
MHA's 9th Annual Societies Conference
The MHA 9th Annual Societies Conference on the Mississippi Gulf Coast was a tremendous success with all of our societies represented and 13 sponsors participating. Our speakers included Liz Jazwiec, a nationally recognized speaker on customer service and employee satisfaction, Paul Mellor who improved all our members’ memories and Barbara Prichard who shared what to expect from Joint Commission in 2009. Our first ever “speed dating” with sponsors was a hit with members and sponsors and included prizes galore!
Mark your calendars for next year’s societies conference: April 28 & 29, 2010 at the Embassy Suites in Ridgeland, MS! (See all of the pictures from this year's conference here. See all of the pictures from the Maggie Awards Dinner here.)
Friends of South Mississippi State Hospital hold annual meeting
During the annual meeting of Friends of South Mississippi State Hospital recently, Josh Smith, an active treatment technician at the Purvis facility, was named Employee of the Year. Selected from employees of each quarter, the honor was voted on by employees based on adherence to the hospital’s value system. Smith was selected for the honor based on his professionalism and compassion for patients and fellow staff members. He is well-liked by staff and is respected for his skills and ability. Smith frequently leads groups with patients, volunteers for extra duty and teaches courses to new employees and others needing to renew certifications.
Friends of SMSH is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting an understanding of mental health and the needs of individuals with mental illness, improving the quality of life for patients and providing recognition and support for hospital employees. The Friends group does this by advocating for the hospital in the community, meeting needs of the patients and providing activities for both the patients and the staff.
Dr. Angeline Godwin, president of the Area Development Partnership, was the keynote speaker at the meeting. Her address to volunteers and staff centered around the theme of, “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.”
New Friends of SMSH officers were also elected during the meeting. Incoming president is Missy Gipson, Vice-President/Branch Manager of the Purvis branch of Hancock Bank. Dr. Elizabeth Yankay, Superintendent of Education at Forrest County Agricultural High School will serve as vice-president. Donna Simmons and Bill Coll, the hospital’s public relations director and fiscal services director, who are ex-officio officers, will serve as secretary and treasurer, respectively. John Blanks, a community volunteer, will fill the slot of immediate past president.
Other board members include: Marvin Breazeale, Senator Joey Fillingane, Dr. Heath Grames (USM), Sue Howell, Greg Lowery (Owens Business Machines), Benny Prestridge (Mississippi Power Company), Debbie Thorn (Community Bank), and the hospital’s 2007 and 2008 employees of the year, John Paul (J.P.) Craft and Josh Smith.
For information on membership in Friends of South Mississippi State Hospital or speakers for your organization or meeting, call 601-794-0219.
FGH volunteer celebrates 30th National Volunteer Week
Forrest General volunteer Jeanne Herring will celebrate 30 years of service to the hospital. Herring goes the extra mile and has shown great dedication throughout her three decades of volunteer service.
Did you know that last year, over 220,000 pieces of mail entered and exited Forrest General? How about the fact that 6,000 pieces of mail were delivered to patients, 1,200 notebooks were assembled, 49,000 charts were compiled and 1,600 hours of care were given to Hospice patients? All of these vital services were made possible by a group of people who deserve all of the recognition that National Volunteer Week affords.
Each April, Forrest General celebrates National Volunteer Week – a chance to recognize and celebrate the hospital’s volunteers for their loyalty and dedication. This year, volunteers will be honored at a luncheon where they will receive certificates, service year pins and a small gift as a token of appreciation. “This is a time for us to show our gratitude for the hard work that has been given so generously, and express appreciation to our volunteers, not only for their loyalty and dedication to our organization, but also for helping so many patients, visitors, physicians and employees,” said Vicky Buxton, Director of Volunteer and Guest Services.
On average, Forrest General is host to a team of 210 volunteers, a combination of the adult volunteer program, student program and volunteers from the community. Last year, community volunteers donated 42 preemie wraps to Labor and Delivery, 115 walker tote bags to Rehab, 70 comfort caps for patients on 6T, and 25 caps for babies in the nursery.
Volunteers carry out many important roles throughout the organization, and can be found in almost every department offering direct or indirect patient care. Volunteers interact directly with patients, perform clerical duties, greet and escort visitors, provide information at the hostess desk, deliver mail and flowers, assemble charts, process mail, provide care to Cancer Center patients and even operate the courtesy and beverage carts, offering juice or magazines to help pass the time.
This year, long-time volunteer Jeanne Herring will be celebrating her 30th National Volunteer Week. Herring began her volunteer work in 1979 after a representative visited her Medical Auxiliary meeting to suggest that doctor’s wives begin volunteering at the hospital. She did just that, beginning her three-decade career as a volunteer working one morning each week. Herring, wife of the late Emmett Herring, M.D., has worked in several capacities including jobs with the juice cart, as CCU waiting room hostess, in the well-baby nursery, and in her current position working with mail processing. Over the years, Herring has seen many changes at Forrest General, but one thing will never change – her desire to give back to others some of the blessings she has received over the years.
The hospital is fortunate to have a large group of dedicated volunteers, but there is always room for more. If you know someone who may be interested in volunteering at the hospital, please contact Sondra Anderson in Volunteer & Guest Services at 601-288-4449.
