Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital dedicates new pavers

ALBANY — A celebration of life and accomplishment was held in the main lobby at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Tuesday as the Phoebe Foundation held its annual Paver Dedication Ceremony.

The event celebrates the past year’s addition of more names to paver bricks on the exterior walkway between the main hospital entrance and the hospital’s tower entrance.

Sixty-one new pavers were added at the walkway in honor or memory of someone, purchased with funds that ultimately go to the Phoebe Foundation.

Appearances were made this year by Phoebe Foundation Chair Larry Hockman, retired physician Dr. George Chastain, Phoebe Network of Trust Director Angie Barber, Human Resources Assistant Vice President Tracy St. Amant and Phoebe CEO Joel Wernick.

Special to this year’s ceremony, the Southwest Georgia Family Medicine Residency program and Phoebe dedicated a brick paver in honor of the Class of 2015, which included the 100th graduate from the program. The paver includes all six of the graduates’ names.

Chastain spoke of how he used to like walking among the pavers, because each one told a story. Of the 100th graduate, he said that individual represents medical education, a form of economic development, importance of patient care, the tough times undergone to get a medical education and a sense of honor.

“It is still a noble a profession and should be regarded as such, but that should be earned,” he said.

Barber spoke of her friend, Tina Phipps, who died last year at the age of 70 after a battle with cancer. Phipps was involved with Turner Job Corps, First Steps, Cancer Coalition of South Georgia, Emory Prevention Research Center, area beauty pageants as well as Phoebe’s centennial celebration in 2011.

“Her voice was always the voice of reason when times were tough,” Barber said. “Breast cancer brought out the strongest in her. She never let cancer define her.”

A paver was placed in her memory this year.

St. Amant is a five-year employee of Phoebe, having been brought into the organization through the Palmyra Medical Center acquisition. She is also the daughter of two people who have sought care at Phoebe at some point in recent years for cancer-related illness.

“I’m not as impressed by the pavers as I am by the work it took (to get a paver),” she said.

Individuals can add the name of someone with a brick of their own with an inscription of two or three lines for $75. For information on how to add a name to the Phoebe Paver Program, call (229) 312-4483.