Peachtree – More than 20 people were in attendance to see Dr. Chester Jones receive an award from Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital for his many hours spent during the worst of COVID-19.
Family members and patients were not allowed to visit with each other then, and much of the hospital was at capacity due to the pandemic. Jones – pastor of Owl Creek Church in Murphy – came on a daily basis to visit with families outside who were holding special vigils for their sick loved ones. He would offer hope, prayers and words of comfort to help get them through difficult times.
“I was the one blessed by some of the experiences I had with some of the families whose hearts were broken and could only see their loved ones through a window,” Jones said.
The tall, soft-spoken man gratefully received the award with emotion in his voice.
The presenter of the award was Dr. Brian Mitchell, a physician of internal medicine at Erlanger. He had this to say of his friend.
“Chester’s a man of strong faith, of great wisdom, particularly in troubled times,” Mitchell said. “A man of great compassion for his fellow man. We love him and appreciate the work he’s done.”
Jones thanked several people upon receiving his award, among them his wife, Linda, who has remained at his side with love and support.
“Knowing him for 51 years, I don’t think I’ve ever met a man more caring, more willing to invest his life for the spiritual welfare of others by living the example set by Jesus Christ,” Ms. Jones said of her husband.
Jones has led the congregation at Owl Creek Church for the last three years. He previously pastored Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church for 15 years. The love and appreciation people have for him was evident in the ceremony.
A quote from Mother Teresa on the award reads: “Kindness is language we all understand. Even the blind can see it, and the deaf can hear it.”