Gambrell Honored At Love Light

The Stephens County Hospital Auxiliary honors retiring Hospital Administrator Ed Gambrell at its annual Love Light program.

Hospital officials and community members gathered at the Stephens County Hospital cafeteria on Thursday to celebrate the annual Love Light program.

Each year, the Hospital Auxiliary honors someone during its Love Light program, usually someone associated with the Auxiliary.

Stephens County Hospital Foundation Director Pamela Jones said this year, the Auxiliary had no question that it was going to honor Gambrell for everything he has done for them and for the hospital.

“He means a lot to them,” said Jones. “He has always been supportive of the Auxiliary, not just because they are an entity of the hospital, but because they do so much for the hospital and he has been very supportive of all of the sales they have. Any ideas they have, any projects they wanted to undertake, he has just been right there behind them the whole way. They love him, they respect him, and they are truly going to miss him.”

For his part, Gambrell said he appreciates everything that the Auxiliary and its members do for the hospital, all on a volunteer basis.

“I have been at Stephens County Hospital 32 years, so I have seen so many wonderful things that they have done, that they have allowed to happen,” said Gambrell. “Personally, I am honored and humbled to be recognized by them because I hold them in such high esteem. I really, truly do.”

The other part of the Love Light program each year is to announce equipment purchased for Stephens County Hospital by the Auxiliary with funds raised through the Love Light program.

This year, the Love Light campaign brought in $35,206.

Gambrell said that money helps purchase much-needed equipment for the hospital.

“We were able to purchase several pieces of equipment, smaller pieces of equipment, but equipment that we need and that we are going to use,” said Gambrell.

Jones said the Auxiliary is glad to be able to help the hospital in this way to go along with all of the time they volunteer for the hospital.

“It is one thing they truly love doing,” said Jones. “They love to give back to the hospital through the equipment, not only just with their time. It is over $35,000. It is the largest amount we have ever purchased. It is just one of their ‘goodnesses’ they do. They do not do it for payment, they do not do it for recognition, they do it with their hearts.”

This year marked the 34th anniversary of the Love Light Campaign and Tree Lighting Ceremony and thus far, Love Light has raised more than $550,000 to use to purchase equipment for Stephens County Hospital.