Haywood retires from PCH

Debby Haywood takes time to visit with some of the members of the Piggott Hospital Board at her retirement party Thursday, Dec. 31. Pictured are, from left--Guy Brinkley, Jr., Don Roeder, Haywood, Tom Sneed and Danny Brown. (Times photo/Laura Cole) [Click to enlarge]

For longer than she likes to remember, Debby Haywood has been a part of the Piggott Community Hospital family.

In fact, she even pre-dates that name as she is one of the few remaining staff members to work at the current hospital and at the old Piggott Hospital which now houses the Piggott Family Medical Clinic.

Haywood's final day on the job was Thursday, Dec. 31, after decades of service to the community. That afternoon the hospital staff and administration took time to honor her on her retirement with a special reception.

"The people -- that's what I'll miss the most -- everyone here is like family and I've made a lot of friends," Haywood reminisced at her retirement party. "I will miss seeing these people every day -- what I liked about this job was the chance to interact with everyone."

Haywood began her career at the local facility May 5, 1978, and worked in the accounting department at the old hospital. She moved to the new building when it opened in 1979 and into the administration department two years later. During the following years she worked closely with administrator Betty Reams and was named assistant and secretary to current administrator James L. Magee when he took over the position in 1997.

A native of Piggott, Haywood graduated from Arkansas State University at Jonesboro. She has lived most of her life in Piggott, with the exception of four years in North Carolina while her husband was in the military.

During those years she worked for the Veterans Administration. She also spent two more years with the VA at the medical center in Poplar Bluff after returning to the Piggott area.

During her retirement reception Haywood also took time to offer some words of advice to Tonya Jordan, the person who will be trying to fill her shoes in the administration office of PCH. "My advice to her is to try to involve the employees and not to expect to be everyone's friend," she noted. She also advised Jordan to be accessible to everyone as she tackles the new responsibilities.

Haywood was married to the late Mike Haywood of Piggott and has a son, Andy. He and wife Ashley live in Paragould and have blessed her with two grandsons, Michael, age five, and Joseph, who is eight months old.

"I'm looking forward to spending more time with my family, especially my grandchildren," Haywood said of her new-found spare time. "I'm looking forward to having more time to read, travel, enjoy a few hobbies and especially to see my grandchildren more often."