Opal Whitmire, RN
Founder and director
Thirty years nursing in Stone County. She grew up on the Sylamore Creek and still plays rhythm guitar on Thursdays.
Our people
The people of Sylamore
Nurses, aides, a cook, a gardener and a driver, most of them Stone County born.
Our team
Who you'll meet
Jenny Lackey, LPN
Nurse
Jenny runs the noon medicines and keeps a sharp eye on every blood pressure.
Hollis Treat
Gardener and greenhouse lead
A retired extension agent who runs the greenhouse and knows every tomato variety in the county.
Mae Burkett
Activities and music
Mae plays fiddle, runs the handwork table and keeps the Thursday jam on time, mostly.
Rhonda Gentry
Lead aide
Rhonda has helped members with walking and personal care since 2010.
Faye Moody
Cook
Faye's fried pies are the reason Fridays are full.
Clayton Hensley
Driver
Clayton knows every hollow in Stone County and how to get the van up all of them.
Rev. Ruth Ann Cole
Chaplain
A Methodist pastor who visits members and families, and leads shape-note singing.
Dana Pruitt, LMSW
Social worker
Dana helps families with benefits, waivers and planning ahead.
Ellis Brandt, DPT
Visiting therapist
Ellis comes twice a week for balance class and physical therapy referrals.
Tilly Ward
Volunteer storyteller
Tilly, ninety-one, runs story hour and was our very first member's best friend.
Sample family reviews
Kind words
Daddy played fiddle at the square every Saturday for fifty years. After his stroke he quit. At Sylamore he picked it back up. Slow, but he plays.
My wife has Alzheimer's but she still knows every tomato she ever grew. Hollis lets her run the seed table.
The van comes up our hollow every morning. In the ice storm, Clayton walked the last quarter mile to check on Mama.
Jenny caught Mom's blood sugar dropping and called her doctor before lunch.
I drive in from Batesville for work. Knowing Dad's on that porch instead of alone lets me breathe.
My grandmother's quilt won a ribbon at the county fair. She made it at Sylamore.
Story hour is the first time in years I've heard Dad talk about the CCC camps.
Faye's fried pies. That's my review.
Dana got Mom's waiver sorted in a month.
It's the gentlest, most alive place I know.
When Mama passed, Rev. Cole came to the house. They didn't forget us.
Thursday at one. Bring your banjo.
Come for the jam, or bring your mother or dad for a visit day, our treat. Call or text Opal.