Julie Smith
Congratulations to Oakey’s Hospice Caregivers Award recipient for August 2018, Julie Smith of Carilion Hospice.
Following is the letter sent to us nominating Julie for this award:
A close personal friend, and a high school classmate, Jesse Perdue, passed away in March, 2018. He and his wife Barbara had no children, and few relatives. Oakey’s served the family, and I was honored to be asked to conduct the graveside service. You can only imagine the loneliness and grief which Barbara experienced, but she is quite resilient, and determined to join a support group. Yesterday, (7/21/18) my wife Debbie and I took Barbara out to dinner in celebration of her birthday. She spoke freely about the support group she joined and was especially complimentary of the leader, Julie Smith from Carilion Clinic Hospice. Barbara described how sensitive and encouraging Julie was with all in the group who had experienced loss. Barbara was unaware until after she had related her experience, that Julie Smith has been a friend of ours for over 20 years, and is the wife of our pastor, Rev. Robert (Bob) Smith of First Evangelical Presbyterian Church! Hospice care is not just a job for Julie Smith, but a vocation. She goes above and beyond the requirements for her position in order to ensure her clients welfare and well-being are in place. I have frequently seen her attending the visitation and/or funerals of clients she has served. Julie Smith is a professional in every way, and I hold her in the highest regard. She is a woman of deep, abiding faith which guides her daily life and inspires others. It is with the deepest respect and admiration, that I nominate Julie Smith for Oakey’s Hospice Caregivers Award.