Our Comunity
Giving from the heart
By Patrick Crowley FSU College of Medicine
“ What the heart gives away is never gone. It is kept in the hearts of others.”
Richard and Syble Eads cite this quote from author Robin St. John as a testament to the life of Vera Kennedy, in whose honor they created an endowed fund with the purpose of helping the underserved and those financially struggling receive care at FSU PrimaryHealth™ in Tallahassee.
“ This quote just sums up Vera,” Syble said.“ She gave so much love and acceptance. We decided the fund had to be named for her because we want people to remember she gave from the heart and what she gave will go on long after we’ re gone.”
The Eadses, who now live in New Smyrna Beach, established the Vera Kennedy Endowment for the Underserved Patients at the FSU Primary- Health Clinic when Kennedy was a young 103 years old. and the Eadses knew if they told her that children would benefit, she would be all for it.
“ Vera said she powdered every bottom in Denison, Texas,” Richard said, and that may not be far from the truth. By the time Kennedy reached 99, she had racked up more than 20,000 hours of volunteer service at Texoma Medical Center in Denison, with much of that time being in the maternity ward. Her service earned her the 2014 Volunteer of the Year award for the state of Texas, an accomplishment she was very proud to be recognized for up until she passed at the age of 104 in June 2021.
Kennedy had close ties to Syble’ s family, as she and her husband, J. W., worked on the Denison farm
“ When I told Vera about the endowment, she said,‘ You don’ t have to go through all that trouble for me,’” Syble said.“ But then we told her that, among others, it will help the children in the community. She was then very excited and asked me to bring fliers to pass out at her next birthday party. She was thrilled when she found out it was going to help the clinic and children.”
Without question, children were near and dear to Kennedy’ s heart Richard Eads said he and his wife, Syble, visited Vera Kennedy in Denison, Texas, for her birthday every year. Their responsibility: Take Vera to get“ her hair did” and get her to her birthday party.
Florida State University College of Medicine
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A REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY