Celebrating Black History Month – Lola Barney
This year, Memorial is celebrating Black History Month by spotlighting members of our team who embody our mission of healing, inspiring, and transforming the health of our community.
Lola has been part of the Memorial team for more than 30 years. She is a Multi Skilled Technician at one of our physician clinics.
She was nominated by another Memorial team member who said, “Lola is a beautiful soul who is a blessing to be around and call a friend. She truly cares. She always treats the patients with respect and compassion. She is a team player and a fantastic support system.”
Patient care is her goal
When asked about the care she provides at Memorial, Lola shares, “No matter what obstacle comes my way, patient care is my goal. I strive to treat them as one of my family, and that makes me feel that I definitely accomplish it.”
Inspired by many
When asked about who inspires her, Lola shares, “Maya Angelou said it best in USA Today: ‘Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it’. My inspiring Black heroes are Ida B. Wells, an African American journalist, educator and early leader in the Civil Rights Movement; she was also involved in the founding of the NAACP. Harriet Tubman, the most famous abolitionist who made 13 missions to rescue 70 enslaved people, is also an inspiration. Josephine A. Silone Yates was a writer and the first Black professor hired at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. She was also the first Black woman to head a college science department.”
She continues, “Last but not least, my mother Betty Lou Price, who is 92 years old, is my inspiration. My sister and I are her caregivers. She has told me stories about racial adversity that she had to overcome. Being an African American woman was hard, and she wanted to be treated with respect. She always gave respect in return, and she always has something positive to say that keeps me on my toes. She is very dear to my heart, and that’s why I can do my job with so much ease. I will be spending Black History Month with my dear husband and my mother whom I call ‘My Lump of Sugar’.”
Serving the community
Lola is part of the Season Saints Ministry, a group of ladies in her church who encourage each other and thrive on taking care of church members who are 60 and older. She says, “We routinely call to check on them, give birthday gifts, Mother’s and Father’s Day wishes, host trips, and we have a quarterly event for them.”
Thank you for sharing your story, Lola, and thank you for all that you do for our patients and community!