Monday, Dec. 1

Outside of the main entrance to JCMH

6:30 p.m.

The 14th annual Light Up A Life celebration for Jackson County Memorial Hospital Hospice will be held Monday, Dec.1. The annual event begins outside the main entrance of the hospital with the lighting of the Mac Mollison Memorial Holiday tree at 6:30 p.m.

The tree lighting ceremony begins with a welcome from JCMH Hospice Director Sallie Pike. The Rev. George Lupton will deliver the special message of remembrance for the tree lighting and David & Kitty Huey with "All That Jazz" will be performing inspirational music.

The event continues at 7 p.m. at the Best Western Altus with the traditional Circle of Light candlelight ceremony and the reading of this year's honored names. A single candle will be lit as each honoree's name is read aloud. Jimmie Ewing, John Borders and Rev. Robert Jackson will read the honored names during the Circle of Light. Each name will be included in the Book of Lights displayed in JCMH main lobby. The St. John's Choir will be the evening's musical guests.

The featured inspirational speaker this year is John Barrett. John was born and raised and currently resides in Martha. He graduated from Altus High School in 1977 and went on to graduate from OSU with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture. He also is a graduate from the Word of Faith Bible College. John has farmed in the Martha community for over 25 years. John has 3 living children, Joseph, Hunter and Charlcey and 1 son, Jonathon who went to be with the Lord at the age of 16. He is the son of Charles and Ferne Barrett of Altus. John has 2 living siblings, a brother in Colorado Springs, David Barrett and a sister in California, Rita Jackson. He also has a sister, Becky who went to be with the Lord at 15 years old and most recently an older brother, Gary who in 2007 died in a car accident.

John attends Altus Christian Fellowship and is active in the Helps Ministry. John loves doing high altitude jeep trails in the mountains of Colorado. He enjoys spending time with family and friends. His greatest passion is pursuing the Lord and sharing hope and encouragement to those around him through his faith and trust in the Lord.

The tradition of the Hospice holiday tree and Light Up A Life celebration began in 1995 in honor of long-time Altus physician Malcolm Mollison. Donations are made to JCMH Hospice at this time each year in honor of loved ones. Many loved-ones have died during the previous years and the Light Up A Life celebration adds to their memory and can be an important part of the survivor's healing process. Names of living family members and special loved ones are also honored during the event.

Hospice care allows patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness to receive medical care, including pain management, in their own home. The comfort and familiarity that comes from remaining in the patient's home environment is a large part of the Hospice concept.

Hospice includes the entire family in the medical and spiritual treatment it provides to the terminally ill patient.

Jackson County Memorial Hospital Hospice serves patients in Jackson County as well as patients in Tillman, Kiowa, Greer and Harmon counties. JCMH Hospice is the original not-for-profit hospice in the area and through the donations it receives, cares for patients who are unable to pay for hospice services.

For information about the JCMH Hospice Light Up A Life celebration on Dec. 1 or to receive information about JCMH Hospice call (580) 481-2320.

JCMH Hospice is located at 1204 E. Tamarack in Altus. Donations can be mailed to PO Box 1139, Altus. Donations are tax deductible and are accepted throughout the year.