Honors volunteers at a health care provider or other health-related organization who are considered exemplary by people within those organizations.
SYLVIA STOUDENMIRE & BONNIE BURRISS
TITLE: Volunteers
ORGANIZATION: Novant Health NHRMC
WHAT A NOMINATOR SAID: “If you want to witness an embodiment of service to others, you need only to spend a little time with Sylvia Stoudenmire and Bonnie Burriss. Sylvia and Bonnie are sisters, lifelong Wilmingtonians and two of the most dedicated and beloved volunteers at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. They attended volunteer orientation together back in October 2009 and with their deep compassion, quick humor and desire to help, they have been an unstoppable force for the patients, staff and visitors ever since.
“If you visit Novant Health NHRMC on a Monday or Tuesday morning, you will probably run into Sylvia and Bonnie. They volunteer as ambassadors in the main lobby, greeting anxious patients and visitors, walking them wherever they need to go, delivering flowers and helping with anything and everything that is needed.… In total, Sylvia has given nearly 7,000 hours of service and Bonnie has given just over 6,000 hours of service to Novant Health NHRMC.”
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Erin Barajas, director of patient services, Novant Health NHRMC
KATHLEEN RANKHORN
TITLE: Volunteer
ORGANIZATION: Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
WHAT A NOMINATOR SAID: “Kathleen’s volunteer work since 2017 has gone above and beyond expectations, significantly enriching the lives of countless patients and their families.
“Kathleen, a retired teacher, began volunteering at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare alongside her mother, a retired hospice nurse who was in her early 80s at the time. Together, they provide invaluable companionship and respite care to patients and their caregivers, often forming lasting bonds with the families they serve. What sets Kathleen apart is her dedication to serving patients over extended periods, often caring for them for months rather than days….
“Kathleen frequently takes on multiple patients at once, sometimes visiting them with her mother, who, despite not driving, joins Kathleen in making these crucial volunteer visits.…
“A hallmark of Kathleen’s volunteer service is her willingness to take on the most challenging patients and caregivers. For example, Kathleen recognized the emotional strain experienced by one caregiver and proactively secured permission to drive her to appointments – a privilege granted to only a small percentage of volunteers.”
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Marti Deeter, lead volunteer services coordinator, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare
CHRIS & JACKIE SMITH
TITLE: Volunteers
ORGANIZATION: Novant Health Pender Medical Center
WHAT A NOMINATOR SAID: “When you are a patient getting ready to have a surgical procedure, it is not uncommon to be a little bit nervous. But if you are having that surgery at Novant Health Pender Medical Center on a Wednesday or Thursday morning, you can rest assured that either Chris or Jackie Smith will be there to greet you with a smile, a comforting word and a big dose of kindness. The husband-and-wife duo have been volunteering there for the last two years and have touched hundreds of lives with their dedication… In fact, these two love volunteering so much that they sometimes try to steal each other’s shifts. They go above and beyond to ensure that patients have a great experience, talking with the patients to make them feel more at ease, bringing them warm blankets and reducing their anxiety. After the patient’s procedure and recovery, the Smiths deliver the same kindness and compassion in helping the patient get to their vehicle and get settled for the ride home. Chris and Jackie always go out of their way to make sure that each patient feels comfortable and well cared for.”
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Suzanne Sawyer, volunteer coordinator, Novant Health Pender Medical Center
Read more about all of the 2025 Health Care Heroes finalists here.
