This week has been a time of tears as one of our Bingo Angels broke the bonds of earth and went to be the Lord. Betty Purvis who has served as a volunteer at Syl-View for over five years is now in the land where we never grow old.

Betty was a faithful volunteer and a member of the Bingo Angels group who won national honors as Group Volunteers of the Year in 2007. She served three days of her last week before her illness. She visited, helped with Bingo and served hot dogs in the gazebo. She rode with the residents on the horse and buggy rides wearing her cowgirl hat. She served at the Queen’s Tea and was a part of all nursing home activities. We will always remember Betty with love and appreciation.

We held a memorial service in the courtyard, and the Bingo Angels placed a flower in her memory. Three butterfly bushes were placed in memory of Betty and Nell Anderson, both Bingo Angels.

Justin Brannen, our summer intern from Georgia Southern planted flowers in the garden containers last week. The plants were provided by Dorothe Garrett in memory of her mother, Mrs. Nora Dell Bragg. Mary Wilma Wells of the Newington bank has given a love gift for the memory garden in memory of her mother, Mrs. Lena Evans. We urge others to give to our memory garden.

Jerry Jones sang gospel songs for the residents on Friday, and the residents enjoyed ice cream and cookies following the concert. We received word from Georgia Health Care that Syl-View had won two state awards. Macie Brannen was named Teen Volunteer of the Year, and the “Master’s Club” won Group Volunteers of the Year. They will receive their awards in October at the state activities convention to be held in Savannah.

We are proud and so grateful of all our volunteers.