BHRC administration and staff will dedicate a memorial garden to the memory of former board member Ann G. Martin, a longtime Bradley County educator before joining the facility’s board. The dedication will be held at 2 p.m. alongside the newly constructed garden at the corner of the south front driveway and parking area. There is a new bench inscribed with Martin’s name.
Martin retired from her teaching/education position in 1991, where she was the county’s Elementary Education supervisor for many years.
She became interested in BHRC and the service it provides to many local residents after her mother, Edna Guthrie, was a resident for rehabilitation. She then asked to be involved in the facility and was selected as a member of its board of directors in 1995.
Martin actively served through five different administrators and many changes over the next 16 years. She served as chairman of the board for the county-owned facility from 2004 to 2008. She actively supported the care facility and was accepted as a member of BHRC’s tight-knit family.
She became more involved at BHRC when her sister, Mary Frances Wattenbarger, was a resident. During this time she visited her sister, and many of the other residents, almost daily.
Martin retired from the BHRC board in 2010 due to health reasons. She became a patient at the center prior to her death in 2011.
The board of directors, and many members of the staff, have been planning the memorial garden for some time, and are looking forward to Sunday’s dedication. Many of Martin’s family from outside the area are coming to Sunday’s program to join staff and many others from the community in paying tribute to Martin.
There will be a short dedication ceremony, followed by refreshments of cake and punch. Anyone in the community is invited to attend the program.
