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Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Heroes, Saints, Legends…and an update
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wesley Woods Foundation President Lillian Darden with Walter E. Massey, president emeritus of Morehouse College and one of the honorees at the recent Heroes, Saints and Legends event. Photo by Laura Heath Gary.
The recent Heroes, Saints and Legends gala at the Piedmont Driving Club honored folks who represent all three categories.
The event, benefiting Wesley Woods’ care and research programs for adults with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, is the annual fund-raiser for the Foundation of Wesley Woods. The Emory University complex includes a geriatric hospital, nursing home, independent living residence for seniors and outpatient center.
This year’s honorees included former Morehouse College President Walter E. Massey, civic leader extraordinaire Colleen O’Brien Nunn and retired Southern Bell CEO Franklin Skinner. The evening included video presentations detailing the lengthy accomplishments of each honoree as well as a surprise caregiver award for Elizabeth Eakes, who has worked at Wesley Woods for more than two decades.
“My love and devotion to the elderly has no end,” Eakes said as she accepted the award from honorary chair Carl E. Swearingen.
Elizabeth Eakes accepts the caregiver award. Photo by Laura Heath Gary
WSB-TV’s Mark Winne served as emcee. The Rev. William O. Britt IV gave the invocation and Bishop L. Bevel Jones III gave the benediction. The crowd also heard from Dr. Alfred Sanfilippo, Emory’s executive vice president for health affairs. The event honored the memory of Jane Carithers.
Foundation president Lillian Darden announced HSL raised more than $463,000. She and her husband, former U.S. Rep. Buddy Darden, were seated with donors Dottie Fuqua, Kathy and Neely Young, Mary and Billy Warren and their son and daughter-in-law, lenn and Susan Warren.
Fred and Janet Sanfilippo. Photo by Laura Heath Gary
Merritt Bond, chair of the Wesley Woods foundation’s board, reminded the crowd that Darden recently was named Woman of the Year by YWCA of Northwest Georgia.
“Lillian, you are not only the woman of the year,” Bond said. “You are the woman of the decade if not the century.”
From left, Franklin Skinner, Ruth Ann Skinner, Colleen O’Brien Nunn, Sam Nunn, Shirley A. Massey, Walter E. Massey. Photo by Laura Heath Gary
Update on Su and Gordon Daitch
I’ve heard from several folks who bought paintings from Su Daitch after reading about her husband Gordon, who has bladder cancer.
“I want to thank you for writing the article about Su and Gordon Daitch in the AJC,” wrote Nancy Lee Daily. “That is an example of journalism making a positive difference for many people. I knew that Dr. Lori Elliott (director of the Urban Literacy Clinic at Georgia State University) has been looking for art to hang in the clinic and Su’s “It Takes a Village” will go up this week. Thanks for your article - we met a great couple and found a painting that’s a perfect fit!”
Here’s a nice note from Roz Howell:
“I cannot thank you enough for the lovely article in Sunday’s paper about Su and Gordon Daitch. After reading your story, I checked out their website. Then, I emailed them; and then, my husband and I went to their house last night to meet them and to purchase a painting. It was all-around a most positive experience and we cannot be more delighted. Please feel free to share this email with whomever you like. Without your story we may never have had the opportunity to know Su and Gordon or to have one of her paintings in our home.”
And here’s one from Curt Gill:
“I just wanted to thank you for writing the story about Su and Gordon. We just bought two pieces from them yesterday. They are quite a pair. Sounds like thru your help they have really been able to sell a bunch of stuff. A great way to sell her work and for a great cause. Thanks again for the heads up. It’s nice to read some uplifting stories once in a while. Please keep us updated on their story.”
Su wrote on Wednesday to say Gordon, who has had initial surgery at Kennestone, will be there another night. They’ll know more in coming days about how things went and what comes next. Stay tuned!
