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September 13, 2021 (Brunswick, Ga.) – The Very Reverend Tom Purdy, Chair of the Board of Hospice of the Golden Isles, announces the election of six new members to its Board of Directors. They join a group of community leaders who have guided the quality hospice and community services provided by the local non-profit organization.

“I am pleased to serve as Chairman of the Board for Hospice of the Golden Isles because it is a stellar organization with a mission that is important to me,” said The Very Reverend Tom Purdy. “Each of the new members brings expertise, commitment, and gifts to our board, and along with the dedicated staff members who care for patients and their families, will help us continue to focus on providing excellent, compassionate care when and where it is needed most.  Hospice of the Golden Isles is a treasure in our community, and I’m pleased to welcome these community leaders to join us supporting such a worthy cause.”

Since 1980, Hospice of the Golden Isles has provided expert, compassionate care for patients with advanced illness and their families in the five counties served – Glynn, McIntoshCamdenBrantley, and Charlton. It operates a hospice inpatient center and a hospice residential care center at its headquarters on Glynco Parkway in Brunswick. It is the only locally based non-profit hospice serving the community and is one of only a handful of hospices in the United States that has consistently received the “Hospice Honors Elite” designation for the quality of its services.

The Board of Directors helps guide the mission and strategic direction of the organization to meet the end-of-life needs of the community, and supports its fundraising efforts and commitment to continue to provide care to all who need it, regardless of the ability to pay.

Hospice of The Golden Isles New Board Members Elected for a Three-Year Term:

Sissy Blanchard – Owner of SaltWater Porch & Patio

Reverend Alan Dyer – Senior Pastor at St. Simons Presbyterian Church

Cedric King – CEO of King’s Consulting

Dr. Tina Kirby – Retired Teacher, Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent

Donna Gowen Poe – Sr. Vice President – Commercial Banker at Ameris Bank

Beryl Mitchell-Blatchford – Christ Church Volunteer for Pastoral Care, Co-Chair of Capital Campaign, Treasurer of the Episcopal Church Women, Hospice of the Golden Isles Volunteer

Hospice of the Golden Isles Tina Kirby

Hospice of the Golden Isles Sissy Blanchard

Hospice of the Golden Isles Donna Gowen-Poe

Hospice of the Golden Isles Beryl Mitchell-Blatchford

Hospice of The Golden Isels Cedric King

Hospice of the Golden Isles Rev. Alan Dyer

“I am thrilled that these six very busy, very much in demand community leaders, are willing to share their time, expertise, and talent with Hospice of the Golden Isles. The new members bring diverse backgrounds and a wealth of experience to our board. I look forward to working with them as we provide oversight and strategic guidance to Hospice of the Golden Isles, which fills an important role in the quality of life of this community,” said Susan Ponder-Stansel, President and CEO of Alivia Care of Georgia, Inc.


Hospice of the Golden Isles is a 501(c) 3 community-based, non-profit organization serving patients in Glynn, Camden, McIntosh, Brantley and Charlton counties. Hospice provides care for the body, mind, and spirit. It focuses on expert pain and symptom management and improving quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses. For more information on Hospice of the Golden Isles, call 912-265-4735 or 866-275-6801, or visit the website at Hospice.me.

The Mission of Alivia Care, Inc., a 501c3, is to provide leadership to support innovative care solutions through best in class services, collaborative partnerships, and strategic investments. The strategic intent of Alivia Care of Georgia, a 501c3 subsidiary of Alivia Care, Inc., is to partner with community-based hospice providers in Georgia to create and strengthen care solutions through vision, leadership, investment, and advocacy. For more information, contact Michelle Cardinal (michelle.cardinal@aliviacare.com; 904.402.1354)