Southeast Georgia Health System Volunteer Services recently announced Stuart Stratton as the Brunswick Campus Winter Volunteer of the Quarter and Beverley Spaeth as the Camden Campus Winter Volunteer of the Quarter. At the same time, Theral Mackey was announced as the Brunswick Campus Spring Volunteer of the Quarter and Joyce Hood as the Camden Campus Spring Volunteer of the Quarter. The awards were presented during the recent Volunteer Services’ Summer Luncheons.

Winter Volunteers of the Quarter

Stratton has been volunteering with the Health System since 2017 and can typically be found at the Parkwood lobby Guest Services desk. He is kind, thoughtful and helpful to visitors and team members alike. “Stuart will often go above and beyond to make sure a visitor or patient’s experience on our campus is a positive one,” says Peggy Tuten, president, Brunswick Campus Volunteer Services. “Recently, he stayed 30 minutes past the end of his volunteer shift to escort and make sure a patient found their way to the correct area of the hospital,” Peggy adds.

Stratton had a distinguished career with the Air Force and later started a successful construction company. He is also a strong supporter and board member of Coastal Georgia Honor Flight.

Stratton lives in Brunswick with his wife, Gigi. In his spare time he enjoys flying airplanes, reading, fly fishing and spending time with family.

For the past 20 years, Spaeth has been helping to provide comfort and distraction for patients, visitors and team members during some of their most difficult and challenging days. She and her dog, BJ, belong to the Health System Pet Therapy program. They visit patients in their rooms, visitors in the lobbies, and team members in their offices and work spaces. She has also been an important partner in helping to build up the Pet Therapy program at the Camden and Brunswick campuses through her involvement with Therapy Dogs International.

Prior to joining the Health System as a volunteer, Spaeth worked for a number of years as a Vet Tech in an animal hospital. She has traveled extensively with her therapy dog to disaster areas and locations where people have experienced trauma to provide comfort and emotional space for healing.

Spaeth and her husband, Kurt, live in Waverly. She enjoys traveling, and not surprisingly, dog training and dog showing.

Spring Volunteers of the Quarter

Mackey started volunteering with the Health System in 2022. “It’s hard to believe that he has been with us for just two years because he has really stepped up to support the Gift Shop and our volunteer program,” says Tuten. “We’re not 100% sure, but Theral may have broken the record for signing up for extra shifts in the Gift Shop, many times at short notice. He is always willing to jump in to provide help wherever needed in the Gift Shop.” Mackey puts visitors and team members at ease with his helpful, easy-going and friendly manner. He has also helped to support Volunteer Services by recently attending the Spring District meeting.

Mackey enjoyed a career as a professional accountant and executive. He lives in Brunswick with his wife, Helen, who also happens to be a volunteer with the Health System. In his spare time, he enjoys grilling at home, attending church, playing with his beloved dog and grabbing breakfast with friends.

Hood joined Volunteer Services five years ago this summer. She is an educator and taught school for years. After retiring, she moved across country from California and now lives in Kingsland, Georgia. She sought a volunteer opportunity with the Health System because she had volunteered in the past and she enjoys helping others.

According to Kathleen Worthing, president, Camden Campus Volunteer Services, Hood was nominated because she is a “go-getter” and always looks for ways to help in the Gift Shop. “She has really stepped up in the last year and assists with training co-volunteers, cleaning and organizing key areas, updating the department coordinator on merchandise needs as well as processing new merchandise,” Worthing adds. “Also, importantly, Joyce is very responsive to requests for help and will fill-in for other volunteers