Colquitt Regional humanitarian award honors retired nurse

Published 1:00 pm Friday, February 17, 2017

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Colquitt Regional Medical Foundation named Barbara James, RN as the recipient of the 2016 Walter E. Harrison, Jr. Humanitarian Award. James was presented with the award at a foundation event last fall.  

The Walter E. Harrison, Jr. Humanitarian Award was established by the Colquitt Regional Medical Foundation to annually recognize an individual health care worker who demonstrates a commitment to compassionate health care service and community outreach, which was the guiding principle of Harrison’s medical career. This award was first given after his death in December of 2010. 

“Dr. Harrison believed in helping those in need,” a hospital spokeswoman said. “He practiced the belief both at home and in medical missions abroad.”

James retired after 41 years at Colquitt Regional Medical Center as the nurse manager for the Maternal Infant Department. Many of those years were spent working alongside Harrison until his retirement.  

In comments made by Colquitt Regional CEO Jim Matney, James was commended for her compassion and love for people, especially babies.  

“Barbara was an exceptional and loving caregiver, and she was also a mentor to her peers,” said Matney.  

James was Colquitt Regional’s neonatal resuscitation instructor and   she held a national certification in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing. She served on the board of the Georgia Perinatal Association for many years and was nominated as the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year in recognition of her volunteer service with the organization.  Like Harrison, James also went on several mission trips to Honduras to assist in providing medical care to those less fortunate.

Previous recipients of the Walter E. Harrison Humanitarian award include Dr. Seth Berl, Denise Linnenkohl, RN, Dr. Patricia Lee June, and Dr. D.W. Adcock.