Standing inside the lobby of the Vaughan Regional Medical Center, Hospital Auxiliary member and Lowndes County native Rosie Dunklin waits patiently in front of an elevator with a bouquet of roses in her hand. Intending to give the flowers to a patient, Dunklin loves to make people smile.

“To help someone, give encouraging words and give a person faith to keep on living every day, is great.” Dunklin said.

Having worked and retired from the Labour Pump Company in the mid-1970s, Dunklin has been a regular volunteer with the hospital and local nursing homes since 2004.

“When I retired, I felt like I wanted to help people in the community,” Dunklin said. “I had a friend who was an auxiliary member, and she invited me on. I’ve even had the opportunity to pray with patients at their bedsides.

“At the nursing homes I take roses to patients, make cupcakes or tea cakes and just do small things,” Dunklin said. “I love it.”

Married 54 years to her husband Paul, Dunklin has seven children, 14 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, who she said she  loves spending time with.

“All of my girls live in Cincinnati, Ohio and my son lives in Georgia,” Dunklin said. “We’ll visit them and they’ll visit us. My children come home often.”

For Dunklin, the atmosphere of the hospital and the people she interacts with every Monday, is what she enjoys most.

“There’s so many people that need encouraging words,” Dunklin said.

“You can find me in the front lobby or gift shop if I’m not running errands. At my previous job I expected a paycheck, but in here, I don’t.”