ATLANTA, Texas - CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital here recently honored longtime volunteer Fran Wyatt with a "Celebration of Service" upon her retirement after 20 years of volunteering.
About 60 hospital volunteers, staff, friends and family took the opportunity to share their appreciation for Wyatt at the event.
In addition to 20 years as a volunteer, Wyatt served as volunteer president for 10 years and was a 10-year member of the previous Atlanta Memorial Hospital Board, six of those years as board secretary. She represented the hospital on the Texas Association of Healthcare Volunteers Board for eight years and provided leadership on the board as the president for one year, traveling throughout the state of Texas to fulfill her duties.
"She has been a leader in multiple roles, all on a volunteer basis, in our hospital for 20 years," Development/Volunteer Coordinator Melissa Kimble said. "She is a leader because she knows how to serve, and she serves whole-heartedly. She's just been a huge blessing to us here."
Kimble said the other volunteers responded to her leadership on a consistent basis.
"Fran has the ability to motivate people to action," she said. "She was proactive about seeing what needs she could meet, seeing what needs other volunteers could meet and encouraging them to meet those needs. When she was the president of the volunteers, we had probably more volunteers than we've ever had at the hospital. And they were involved in many areas of care in the hospital. They were very active under her leadership."
Many patients, family members and visitors can recall being greeted and assisted by Wyatt at the front information desk. She also volunteered beside the staff each Tuesday in the Diabetic Education Department, offering support to patients living with diabetes.
"I think what people will remember most is how much she cared about them," Kimble said. "She's been very intentional on forming relationships with the people that work and volunteer here. She is an avid encourager and mentor to younger people. Her willingness to pray with you and give you advice - that will be greatly missed."