Take Me To Post Comment Form A great lady and incredible servant to Bulloch County died recently and I my life is fuller for knowing her. Ms. Martha Firges RN, was an integral part of this community for over 60 years.

Beginning in the 1950s, as a nursing supervisor at Bulloch Memorial Hospital, employees knew she meant business when they saw “Ms. Firges coming around the corner". After all , there were too many people to care for to be “monkeying around". In those years, she did it all; from assisting with births to assuring that all medical and surgical patients were receiving the nursing care that was up to her high standards.

After her long career in the hospital and then as a nursing home administrator, Ms. Martha gave the rest of her life to volunteerism through her caring service to the patients and families of Ogeechee Area Hospice.

From 1995 until June 13, 2008 she was a proud and devoted volunteer. Ms. Martha traveled many country roads to the homes of our patients in our early years. Providing support to the patient and their loved ones during their final hours was her calling. And in keeping with her philosophy as a former nursing supervisor, there were no physical needs of a bedridden patient that were beneath her personal assistance. During her 13 years as a volunteer, Ms. Martha Firges devoted thousands of hours to the dying.

In recent years, due to failing health, Ms. Martha could no longer perform bedside care so she found her place in our Inpatient Center, answering patient call lights, the telephone and greeting visitors. Ms. Martha never had children of her own. We were her family and she was ours.

I sat on her bedside and when we spoke this time, we both knew it would be our last time together. I said, “Ms. Martha, you have given so much to our patients and families but I don’t think I have ever told you what you have meant to me personally. On so many days that seemed overwhelming, you were my source of encouragement and inspiration to keep fighting the good fight. I love you. Ms. Martha gave me the Kleenex in her hand. And she whispered back, “And I love you.

I was proud to know her and I will miss her.