Florence Henderson of Tuskegee
Rural Volunteer Excellence in Service Award Recipient
Donald E. Williamson, M.D., Alabama State Health Officer, presents the Rural Volunteer Excellence in Service Award to Florence Henderson at the awards luncheon in Montgomery on March 29, 2002
Florence Henderson is a retired registered nurse from Tuskegee. She has worked untiringly as a volunteer since her retirement to provide health promotion education materials to seniors in rural areas of Alabama. On one occasion, she personally put together over 500 health packets for distribution containing brochures on cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, flu shots, and other health concerns of rural seniors. She serves on several city and county faith-based health ministry committees to recruit volunteers to help home-bound seniors gain access to health fairs and seminars.
Mrs. Henderson is a community advocate for home-bound seniors and is particularly supportive of activities which encourage good nutrition and physical activities in their homes. Her outreach efforts extend to all age groups. She has aggressively pursued activities to enroll children in Alabama's Children Health Insurance Program. She also serves as a volunteer on state level advisory groups, such as the Alabama Cardiovascular Coalition and Alabama Osteoporosis Coalition, to improve services to special-needs populations at the community level and has been a leader in developing faith-based ministries for the African American population for prevention strategies in diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Mrs. Henderson's nominator for this award describes her as having a high energy level which is displayed through an enthusiasm which encourages others to become volunteers. The health status of rural Alabama has benefitted from her activities and enthusiasm.
The Alabama Rural Health Association is pleased to recognize Florence Henderson as the first recipient of this prestigious award.