6/21/07

McLeod retires after 39 dedicated years at CMH
By Cathy Gilbert

Submitted Photo

Clarendon Memorial Hopital CEO Ed Frye congratulated Hattie McLeod upon her retirment after 39 years of dedicated services to the local hospital.

In this day of job hopping, career escalation and wondering what color your parachute is, to spend 39 years in one job at one location goes way beyond remarkable.

It is down right miraculous.

But for Hattie McLeod, it was just doing what she loved in a place she loved doing it.

And if it weren’t for a recernt knee replacement, she would probably still be serving as a CNA – a certified nursing assistant – at Clarendon Memorial Hospital, a place she called home since June 3, 1968.

After visiting her grandmother in our local hospital nearly 40 years ago, Hattie knew what she wanted to do for a living.

Just one week later, after meeting with the late Dorothy “Dottie” McFaddin, a nursing supervisor, McLeod was back at CMH as a nursing assistant.

Her tenure there included working on the surgical and Alderman floor and the nursery. For nearly six years, she headed the nursery. Just think how many Clarendon babies have been rocked to sleep by her gentle hands!

McLeod’s reputation is known throughout the hospital as a loving care giver.

Co-worker Dorothy Rawlinson noted that McLeod was known for her outward strength and her inner compassion.

“She may have a hard outer crust, but inside there is a wonderful softness, like a piece of old bread.”

McLeod was also know as a good listener and served as a “second Mom and advisor” to many of the younger CNAs coming up behind her.

“I tried to help them as they learned the job,” said McLeod, humbly.

McLeod distinguished herself as one of the most dependable, punctual and hard working employees of the hospital.

“Patients have actually asked to be assigned to her floor,” noted a CMH official at a 2003 award ceremony.

McLeod makes her home in Mayesville and went to work for the hospital before she even learned to drive.

“My father used to take me to work every day,” she noted.

Today, McLeod is still a resident of Mayesville, where she makes her home with her husband of 38 years, Leroy. They are the proud parents of two sons, David and Marvin and have eight grandchildren.

The lives that McLeod touched in her 39-year tenure at Clarendon Memorial Hospital can never be counted. Because healing is so much more than operations and medications, many patients can give thanks to McLeod for her gentle and caring spirit.