Four named to Who's Who in Nursing Homes
James Caperton, Lillian Kitchens, Arthur Dacosta Correia and Mattie Stewart will be recognized for the achievements during their lifetime.
The four will be presented certificates acknowledging their achievement during National Nursing Home Week, May 13-19. The Who's Who was developed by the Tennessee Health Care Association (THCA) to recognize citizens of their hometown in their golden years of life.
"Nursing home patients are treasures to their communities," said THCA Executive Director Ron Taylor. "These men and women demonstrate strength, bravery and wisdom and this program provides opportunities to recognize these accomplishments and how they've enriched the lives of their families and their communities."
Caperton has a long history of serving others having started working for his father's drugstore when he was only 12 years old. He grew from soda jerk to pharmacist, graduating from the University of Tennessee School of Pharmacy in 1939.
He returned to the pharmacy and served Bedford County until the store closed in 1995. Caperton was active in Rotary International with 58 years of perfect attendance.
A native of Bermuda, Dacosta Correia broadcast Christian programs over Bermudian radio and operated a Christian bookstore before moving to the United States in 1980. He is considered by other residents to be "up-lifting" in his daily walk, a source of strength he drew from his challenges when he was young.
As a child, Dacosta Correia contracted an illness that required treatment from the US Naval base. He was 11 before learning to walk again.
Stewart, a graduate of Tennessee State University with a master's degree in education, opened a boarding house after retiring from teaching. Her teaching days, in first through 8th grade, were in the rural community setting.
Stewart has been active in the Retired Teachers Association, garden clubs, the Baptist Association and as a volunteer in tutoring programs.
Kitchens has had a life of great color. She literally ran away with the circus as a youngster and traveled all over the country and Canada training horses and monkeys. In addition, she drove trucks and made costumes for the performers.
Her desire to become a nurse drove her to join the armed forces. Her education was instrumental in caring for her mother before her death. She used her many talents to tutor children and adults through her church's school.
Though each of these individuals reside in nursing care facilities, they have not stopped being a source of history and information about the Bedford County community. Caperton and Kitchens live at Glen Oaks Convalescent Center. Stewart and Dacosta Correia reside at Bedford County Nursing Home.
The Who's Who awards will recognize their achievements. Over 1,200 individuals have been awarded this title since the program was developed in 1983.
