UMMC volunteers pay tribute to nurses with Honor Guard memorials

How do you say “thank you” to a nurse at the end of life who’s given countless hours to a calling?

For members of the Mississippi Nurse Honor Guard, they pay their respects at nurses’ memorial services around the state. Nurses at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and in the School of Nursing at UMMC are among those who honor their fellow nursing professionals.

Dressed in the classic nurse’s uniform of a white dress, starched cap and blue cape – or white scrubs for men, Mississippi Nurse Honor Guard members read the Nightingale Tribute, and present white roses and a symbolic Florence Nightingale lamp to family members. The nonprofit Mississippi Nurse Honor Guard does this free of charge.

"Nurses make so many selfless sacrifices providing care to others. They often work long hours, weekends, and even holidays away from their own families,” said Lacy Latham, a registered nurse at University Heart and a member of the Mississippi Nurse Honor Guard’s Central Mississippi Chapter. “This is a way of acknowledging the sacrifices nurses and their families make. It’s our way of saying thank you.”

The reading is tailored to the departed, including their name and pronouns. The Nightingale Tribute reads, in part, “Nursing is a calling, a lifestyle, a way of living. …  When a calming, quiet presence was all that was needed, she was there. In the excitement and miracle of birth or in the mystery and loss of life, she was there. When a silent glance could uplift a patient, family member or friend, she was there. At those times when the unexplainable needed to be explained, she was there. When the situation demanded a swift foot and sharp mind, she was there.  … To witness humanity—its beauty, in good times and bad, without judgment, she was there. To embrace the woes of the world, willingly, and offer hope, she was there.”

The entire Nightingale Tribute can be read or downloaded from the American Nurses Association website.

“We include it at the beginning, end or middle of the service, depending on the wishes of the family,” said Dr. Carl Mangum, associate professor, director of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner track, and emergency preparedness and response specialist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing. He’s participated in eight memorial services as a member of the Central Mississippi Chapter.

“Families find the reading and the presentations to be very meaningful,” he said. “It’s a very special moment for them and for us in the Honor Guard.”

The Mississippi Nurse Honor Guard began in 2019 when Connie Williams, an acute care nurse practitioner with Merit Health Central, discovered nurse honor guards in other states and wanted one for the state. Now there are chapters for Central, Northern, Southwestern and East Central Mississippi, Hattiesburg and the Gulf Coast. The Central Mississippi chapter has more than 100 members.

“I began doing research and reached out to a couple of my nurse friends to see if they would also be interested,” Williams said. “As I was trying to get organized and started, a dear friend made a post about her mother (a nurse) being placed in hospice. Her mother had contributed to me also becoming a nurse. I knew we had to expedite things to be able to honor her. On Aug. 30, 2019, we performed our first service with only four members.”

So far, Mississippi Nurse Honor Guard members have been a part of more than 75 funerals. They were also honored at the Governor's Mansion on Sept. 16th, 2020, with Gov. Tate Reeves signing a proclamation declaring that day as the official Mississippi Nurse Honor Guard Day. House Speaker Rep. Philip Gunn also signed a proclamation honoring the “exceptional humanitarian efforts of the Mississippi Nurse Honor Guard.”

“The most meaningful part is being able to show respect and appreciation for someone who dedicated their entire life serving others,” Williams said. “Nursing is a calling and a lifestyle. It doesn't just stop after your work shift. We also sacrifice time away from our families working long hours, weekends, and holidays. Our mission is to make sure no nurse goes unrecognized for their lifelong selfless service.”

The Mississippi Nurse Honor Guard welcomes new members, she said. “We’re all volunteers and want to make sure we are able to perform services as the needs arise.”

For more information, contact the Mississippi Nurse Honor Guard through their Facebook page or email them at MSnursehonorguard@gmail.com.