TUPELO—At the Spirit of Women awards luncheon held in mid-May, North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC) honored three spirited women who have become difference-makers in the northeast region of Mississippi.

 

Ashley Pruitt, Bev Crossen and Mary Pace, MD, all of Tupelo, received certificates, flowers and gift cards at the regional event, a stepping-stone to the national awards program.

 

Pruitt was selected as the Young Person Role Model. "In terms of life experience, this person may be lacking in the area of longevity, but more than makes up for it with intensity," said Deborah Pugh, spokesperson for NMMC. "This individual extends her gifts to other people by participating in, or maybe even organizing, a group that shares information, material goods, education, entertainment or inspiration with people who need them."

 

This spring, Pruitt graduated from Tupelo High School, where she was an honor roll and honor band student who volunteered her summers getting the band hall and library ready for the school year. She routinely gives trumpet lessons to younger band students and also mentors young girls through her Girl Scout troop and church. She actively volunteers throughout our community and recently earned the Gold Award, Girl Scouts' highest honor.

 

Crossen was the Community Hero category winner. "Nominees understand clearly and passionately that how we perform as individuals determine how we perform as a community," said Pugh. "This person knows how to take the initiative, to pick up a phone, to pick up a pen and to take action. In fact, she searches for things that can't be done and does them. This person is not afraid to fail."

 

Crossen is a significant driving force behind the Weston Reed Cardiovascular Conference, an effort she helped establish three years ago after the untimely death of 11-year-old Weston Reed. So far, these efforts have provided 55 automated external defibrillators and free CPR training for hundreds of area residents. Last year, Crossen became certified as a Heartsaver CPR and AED instructor. Through the Junior Auxiliary of Tupelo, she organized volunteers to train 420 ninth grade students at Tupelo High School in this lifesaving skill.
Pace was named this year's Healthcare Hero. "The real test of this nominee's work can be measured by the care she gives to the job-or to the person-in front of her, even when a myriad of demands and commitments are swirling around," said Pugh. "This person pays attention to detail, and in defiance of a popular self-help guide, does sweat the small stuff."

 

A charter board member for New Expectations for Women in Mississippi, through which she helps women sharpen their personal and professional skills, Pace received the prestigious Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship for her healthcare efforts, which includes sharing her time freely to speak to various community groups. Pace serves as an elder at First Presbyterian Church, donates her time generously to the Free Clinic and has served on the boards of Community Development Foundation, CREATE and other community organizations. Designated by Spirit of Women as a HeartCaring physician, Pace recently completed special training in "Evidence-Based Guidelines for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Women."

 

Spirit of Women nominees also honored at the annual luncheon include Lindsay Blaire Beeman of Tupelo, Shirley Bennett of Nettleton, Shawn Brevard of Tupelo, Angie Everett of New Albany, Mary Foley of New Albany, Mary Green of Tupelo, Rhonda Herring of Tupelo, Marilyn Kelly of Booneville, Jamie Kyker of Tupelo, Donna Loden of Tupelo, Lynda Love Irwin Murff of Saltillo, Suzanne Oakley of Bruce, Monique Salters of Tupelo, Lynda Smith of Pontotoc, and Janie Wallace of Pontotoc.