BWWMH Auxiliary has state board members

By David Snow (Contact) | Demopolis Times

Published Monday, October 13, 2008

DEMOPOLIS — The Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is very active, so it comes as no surprise to find its members serving on the state level.

At the 2008 meeting of the Alabama Council of Hospital Auxiliaries this week in Guntersville, Sharon Farst was officially named the state chair, while Linda Burnham, who served one term as the state gift shop chair, was named the state newsletter chair.

“You have to have been the president of your local auxiliary before you can be elected as the state chair,” Farst said. “I’ve been with the state board for six years now. I was the state historian, then I was named the District III vice chair, and then district chair, all two-year terms. I was the state chair-elect for two years, and now, I’m the state chair.”

Farst has been working with the Demopolis auxiliary for almost 11 years.

“I enjoy meeting people,” she said of her job. “You meet so many different types of people. If I can make one unhappy person smile, it makes it all worthwhile. It’s a unique job.”

Farst takes the reins of the state board from Janice Gillespie of Birmingham, assuming the chair duties on Oct. 7. She served as the past president of the Whitfield Hospital Auxiliary as well as the treasurer, and chaired several committees at the Demopolis hospital. She was selected as the 2000 Volunteer of the Year.

A native of Marion, Ohio, she and her husband, Richard, have two children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She is active at the First Presbyterian Church and has served on the Women in the Church board of directors. She currently serves on the Demopolis beautification committee.

Burnham is in her fifth year with the state council, having served as the newsletter chair for two years and as the gift shop chair for the last two years.

As the newsletter chair, she is responsible for accumulating information from all of the hospital auxiliaries statewide for the council newsletter, The Communicator.

“I feel very honored to serve as long as I have,” she said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I have the opportunity to meet auxiliary members from all over the state. Going to district conferences, I get to meet different members or see members I’ve known and visit with them. It’s given me an opportunity to meet wonderful friends and help promote our local auxiliary.”

Burnham has been with the Demopolis hospital for more than six years, working with outpatient services.

“I love working with the patients,” she said. “I love working with people.”

Burnham came to Demopolis from Fort Smith, Ark. She and her husband, Travis, have two children and three grandchildren.

Having served on the Alabama Council of Hospital Auxiliaries, Sharon Farst and Linda Burnham continue to serve hospital auxiliaries at the state level. They are fine examples of hometown people providing service to the community and to the state.