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The eighteenth annual “Light Up A Life” celebration for Jackson County Memorial Hospital Hospice will be held Monday, Dec. 3, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the lighting of the “Dr. Malcolm Mollison Memorial holiday tree” outside the main entrance of Jackson County Memorial Hospital. The service continues at the Altus Best Western at 7 p.m. with the Ceremony of Remembrance.

Eddie D. Wilcoxen will be the featured speaker at the Ceremony of Remembrance. During the ceremony, a candle will be lighted as each honoree’s name is read. Honored names are included in the “Book of Lights” that is displayed in the JCMH main lobby throughout the year. Musician Blake Pewo of Altus will provide music during the ceremony.

Wilcoxen is well known for his accomplishments in poetry, speech, debate, landscape artistry, broadcasting, and teaching. Eddie hosts the top rated daily morning show in Southwest Oklahoma where his poetry reaches an audience of fifty thousand on KWHW Radio in Altus, Oklahoma. He was appointed by Governor Henry to be Oklahoma Poet Laureate for 2011 and 2012, and has presented over 100 programs during his term.

The tradition of the Hospice holiday tree and the Light Up A Life celebration began in 1995 in memory of long-time Altus physician Dr. Malcolm Mollison. Dr. Mollison was a vital force in establishing JCMH Hospice.

Hospice care allows patients diagnosed with a terminal illness to receive medical care, including pain management, in their own homes. The comfort and familiarity that comes from remaining in the patient’s home environment is part of the Hospice concept.

Hospice includes the entire family in the medical and spiritual treatment it provides to the terminally ill patient.

Jackson County Memorial Hospital Hospice serves patients in Jackson, Tillman, Kiowa, Greer and Harmon counties. JCMH Hospice is the original not-for-profit Hospice in the area and through the donations it receives, cares for patients who are unable to pay for hospice services.

For information about this year’s Light Up A Life celebration on December 3rd or to receive information about JCMH Hospice, call 379-6900.

Jackson County Memorial Hospital Hospice is located at 1204 East Tamarack Road in Altus. Donations are tax deductible and are accepted throughout the year.