Mary Elizabeth ‘Meg' Jeffrey, nurse who became goodwill ambassador for Emory Transplant Center

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By J.E. Geshwiler

For the AJC

Her colleagues at the Emory Transplant Center thought of Meg Jeffrey as the center's ambassador. Wherever she went, she radiated goodwill.

Family photo Mary Elizabeth "Meg" Jeffrey.

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As outreach coordinator, Mrs. Jeffrey traveled around Georgia advising prospective patients on how to qualify for transplant surgery and explaining the pros and cons of transplants. She also spoke to groups of health care professionals, bringing them up to date on the latest developments in transplant procedures.

"Whatever her audience, physician or layman, sophisticated or not, she could communicate appropriately and effectively," said Dr. Tom Pearson of Atlanta, an Emory transplant surgeon.

"Meg was incredibly generous with her time and thoughtful beyond any measure with patients and their families. She reached out to people with extraordinary sensitivity and sincerity," Dr. Pearson said.

"Meg had an aura of sunshine about her," said Dr. John Welthel of Atlanta, a transplant surgeon at Piedmont Hospital. "She was a person of unbelievable compassion and gave hope to people who once had no hope."

Mary Elizabeth "Meg" Jeffrey, 48, died Tuesday of arrhythmia at her Atlanta home. A funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Pius X Catholic Church, with interment to follow at Lawnwood Cemetery, Covington. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Georgia Transplant Foundation, 6600 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, 600 Embassy Row, Suite 250, Atlanta, GA 30328. Horis A. Ward Funeral Home, Rockdale Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

Before Mrs. Jeffrey became outreach coordinator, she worked directly with patients as a kidney-pancreas coordinator and a post-transplant nurse.

"Meg's patients from 10, 15, 20 years ago would stay in touch with her and invite her to special family occasions like christenings," said Dr. Nicole Turgeon, another Emory transplant surgeon. "She never turned former patients away, not even when they called her at home after work."

Dr. Turgeon said Mrs. Jeffrey had an uncanny way of remembering everyone by name, their children's names and their individual circumstances -- not just with patients, but with doctors, nurses and staff, too.

Mrs. Jeffrey was equally caring with her co-workers.

"When I came to Emory from Boston three years ago, Meg was the first person who took me to lunch," said Dr. Turgeon. "She gave me a map and familiarized me with the city. And we became fast friends. But I wasn't the only one she greeted so warmly. She did that for all the Emory Transplant Center newcomers."

Even off-duty, Mrs. Jeffrey could sense people in need.

One night about seven years ago Mrs. Jeffrey and a co-worker were leaving work late and happened to notice a seemingly confused woman wandering down the street.

"Typically of Meg," said Dr. Pearson, "she spent hours on the phone that night trying to determine where the woman belonged. It turned out she had walked away from a nearby nursing home, and Meg was able to bring her safely back."

Mrs. Jeffrey's favorite activity away from work was socializing with friends, said her husband, Charlie Jeffrey. Customarily, she would appear at these gatherings with a plate of her freshly baked brownies. She was a fine cook, he said, specializing in Italian-style dishes.

Also surviving are her father and stepmother, Larry and Dee Gazzola of Conyers, and two sisters, Jennifer Parker of Conyers and Elizabeth Brazeau of Misawa, Japan.