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Employees and families enjoy a reception spread following the awards ceremony.

Betsy Adams receives the 45 Years of Service Award from Whitfield CEO Doug Brewer.

Deeya Fitz-Gerald receives her 35 Years of Service Award from CEO Doug Brewer.

Cheryl Osbourne receives her 25 Years of Service Award from CEO Doug Brewer.

Kimberly Gibbs receives her 25 Years of Service Award from CEO Doug Brewer.

Donna Sue Gandy receives her 25 Years of Service Award from CEO Doug Brewer.

Mary Elizabth Cargile receives her 20 Years of Service Award from CEO Doug Brewer.

Betsy Adams receives the 45 Years of Service Award from Whitfield CEO Doug Brewer.

Whitfield Regional Hospital held its annual Years of Service Awards ceremony Tuesday night to recognize 26 employees with five or more years at the hospital.

The awards are given for every fifth year only, so someone with nine years will have to wait until next year for their 10-Year award, for example.

Whitfield CEO Doug Brewer opened the evening with a warm welcome as the sun set outside the lobby window. Brewer spoke of employee dedication and commitment to helping patients. 

“It’s one of the reasons I’m here,” he said as he went on to describe the selfless care that Whitfield employees show their patients. “These people do so much … They literally save lives.”

He added that rural hospitals such as Whitfield remain standing as a “testament to the will of the people working there and their drive to take care of the people in their communities … because it’s not a good business model.”

Several of the employees receiving awards were absent, likely due to being on shift. Deborah Bambarger called out names for the awards after giving a brief bullet point history lesson for each five year marker that recipients started working at Whitfield. 

The starting class of 2019, receiving Five-Year Service Awards: Amanda Giles, Ashley Killings, Elmyra Lowe, Donna Malone, Joanna Mitchell, Terre Moore, Teresa Smith, Beverly Thomas, Shelley Wood, Victor Young, and Ericka Greene.

Ten Year Awards (2014): Ranie Agee, Louise Duke, Deloris Finch, and Linde McAdams.

Fifteen Year Awards (2009): Charity Curtis and Richard Robertson.

Twenty Year Awards (2004): Mary Elizabeth Cargile and Alvin Lewis.

Twenty-five Year Awards (1999): Donna Sue Gandy, Kimberly Gibbs, and Cheryl Oscbourne.

Thirty-five Year Awards (1989): Randy Dearman, Tina Fleming, and Deeya Fitz-Gerald.

Capping off the evening was a bittersweet moment as Brewer presented Betsy Adams with a 45-Year Award, celebrating her start at Whitfield in 1979. Betsy is retiring after running the fitness center at the hospital, “as far as I know, for as long as it’s existed,” Brewer laughed. 

Adams said she began working on site when she was just 17 years old, in 1979. 

“I’m going to miss it,” she said with a misty smile, “It’s like a second home.” When asked about future plans, Betsy perked up, “I’m going to keep working part time for a while. But, I’m retiring, and leaving the fitness center in good hands.”

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