Brenda Parr was named the Volunteer of the Year by members of the Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

“It was a complete surprise,” said Parr, who is also the president of the Auxiliary. “It was never announced until the volunteer luncheon during National Volunteer Week (April 19-25).”

The Auxiliary members have a secret vote in February for its Volunteer of the Year. Parr said that there are 46 active Auxiliary members and four associate members. Despite still being called by its traditional name, “Pink Ladies,” the Auxiliary has four male members.

Parr is in the second year of her two-year term as president of the Auxiliary, her second time to serve as its president. She began her Auxiliary service in 2000 and earned a 2,500-hour pin in March. She is a retired teacher who taught third and fifth grades at Westside Elementary and U.S. Jones Elementary schools.

“It’s a wonderful organization and a wonderful group of people to work with,” she said. “They are all committed, very responsible and a pleasure to work with. They take their commitment seriously. Our goal is to help the hospital any way we can.”

Parr said the Auxiliary bought a neonatal ventilator for the hospital for $18,000.

“I enjoy the feeling that you are being a help to people, and getting to associate with various people,” she said. “I enjoy doing something worthwhile.”

“Winning the Volunteer of the Year award is a tremendous honor. There are others who deserve this award as well, but I was delighted. It was a great honor to be selected.”