It’s time for honor rolls, but this one goes beyond letter grades.
The Tennessee Health Care Association/Tennessee Center for Assisted Living‘s annual Who’s Who in Tennessee Long-term Care has been given “The Honor Roll” as its theme this year, and the list includes seven honorees with Carter County links and a variety of backgrounds.
Those backgrounds range from a Special Forces veteran who worked past a serious injury to continue serving to a state archivist, a long-time college professor and a woman who served nearly three years in the Women’s Air Corps.
Honorees in this year’s Who’s Who recognition program include military heroes, educators, entertainers and other elders living in THCA/TNCAL member nursing homes and assisted living communities statewide.
Here’s a quick look at this year’s honorees from Carter County:
• Curtis Stonecipher, a resident at Ivy Hall Nursing Home, served in the military for 25 years.
His military service began in the Army Special Forces during Vietnam; he was injured and lost use of his left hand. But with persistence and hard work, he returned to the Army despite the injury and worked as an instructor and in the motor pool.
He and his wife, Bobbie, have been married 56 years and have two children and seven grandchildren.
• Olivee Miller, a resident at Ivy Hall Nursing Home, was described in the announcement as having the ability to see everything in life positively, and she considers the other residents and staff her family. Her joy and encouragement of others are contagious, the announcement noted.
• Mary Pacifico, a resident at Roan Highlands Nursing Center, received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from St. Joseph College and worked as a registered nurse in various hospitals. She taught nursing courses and was eventually promoted to the director of the nursing program at Pinellas Technical Institute. She was devoted to her church and served as her parish’s nurse until 2011.
• Luther Krider, a resident at Roan Highlands Nursing Center, joined the U.S. Army right out of high school and became a sergeant while serving in Vietnam. He also received a Purple Heart, Air Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge for his service. After the military, he was in law enforcement, working as a police officer, sheriff’s deputy, investigator and as a security officer at the Department of Homeland Security. In his free time, he creates art that has been exhibited in galleries throughout the United States.
• Mary Chamber, a resident at Hillview Health Center, spent 33 months in the Women’s Air Corps during World War II. She was married for 56 years and worked for 40 years at North American Rayon. She recently celebrated her 102nd birthday and is the oldest member of First Baptist Church.
• Emile Webb, a resident at Appalachian Christian Village, was born in Detroit but spent most of his life in Johnson City. He taught at Milligan College for 40 years. After retiring from academia, he was a minister at a church in Erwin. He was married for 75 years and has three children.
• Robert Nave, a resident at Hermitage Health Center, earned his bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degree in history from East Tennessee State University. He taught high school history for several years before pursuing his doctorate at the University of Tennessee. He was drafted in the Korean War and served as a specialist 3rd class with the Army Air Force. In 1970, he earned a master’s degree in library science and archives and worked at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville.
The honorees will receive a Who’s Who certificate of achievement during National Nursing Home Week, May 11-17, an event celebrating the staff, residents, volunteers and family members who contribute to the quality of life for those living in our nation’s long-term care facilities. His profile will also be featured on THCA’s website, www.thca.org.
“This year’s theme is ‘The Honor Roll,’” THCA Executive Director Jesse Samples said. “It truly is an honor to recognize these men and women for the many ways they have made a difference in their communities and the lives of others.”
Since 1983, the Who’s Who in Tennessee Long-term Care program has recognized more than 2,000 outstanding individuals living in THCA/TNCAL member facilities who have made noteworthy contributions to society and helped shape history through their actions.
Ivy Hall Nursing Home, Hermitage Health Center, Appalachian Christian Village, Roan Highlands Nursing Center and Hillview Health Center are member of THCA/TNCAL, a nonprofit organization whose members include senior living communities throughout the state.
Who’s Who honorees are honored each year during National Nursing Home Week and receive certificates recognizing their achievements. THCA also sends press releases to the local media and features the honorees both in Perspective magazine and online. For more information on long-term care in Tennessee, visit www.thca.org.