Hospice of Rutherford County doing business as Hospice of the Carolina Foothills conducted the first of what will become an annual memorial service remembering hospice patients served by the merged organization in the last year in Polk County.

There were 86 patients served by the organization in Polk County from April 1, 2016 through March 31, 2017. Patients were memorialized and their caregivers honored during the service conducted by staff and volunteers at Tryon First Baptist Church at 6 p.m.

Approximately 90 family members and friends attended the service. Reverend Dr. Rick Jeff Harris, pastor of Tryon First Baptist Church, delivered the message of hope. The patients’ names were read, and pictures of them were displayed in a moving presentation. Steve Hardin of Tryon Estates provided a musical selection and HORC Nurse Practitioner provided the opening piano solo.

Hospice will conduct its annual memorial service for Rutherford County in the fall, and the organization conducted its South Carolina division service in May. For more information about hospice and palliative care services or grief counseling, please call 864-457-9100 or 800-218-2273.

– article submitted by Heidi Owen