“A Fond Farewell”
by Albert McClure, Social Worker, Hospice of Central GA
On August 12, 1996, Rodney Callahan began his ministry as a chaplain with Hospice of Central Georgia in Macon, GA. Fifteen (15) years later to the date, August 12, 2011, he retired.
On August 11, staff and friends gathered at our new 5.5 million dollar hospice home, Pine Ponte, to bid him farewell. This pastural setting with trees, shrubs, flowers, and water fountains provided a backdrop for his retirement party cookout.
About forty-five (45) people were present for his roast (well done, thank you) and toast. Several shared humorous incidents from their ministry together. (You may talk about those with him privately.) A social worker told about the day he hauled a new casket (for a deceased patient) from Macon to Butler, GA on the back of his pickup truck. (That caused some strange looks from other drivers.)
Several staff members said that Rod had provided ministry to them and their family when they had an illness or death. Others said that he had great compassion for his patients and families. He started a pantry to provide food for them. Someone else added that he sent Christmas cards to all his Christian patients. He even mailed post cards to them while he was on vacation. At Thanksgiving he and other staff bought them turkeys.
Many of the attendees gave Rod cards, gifts, and a few good gag gifts. (No comments on those.)
Woody O’Dell, the hospice director, gave him a beautiful plaque from The Medical Center of Central Georgia. (Hospice of Central GA at Pine Ponte is a part of that health care system.)
This writer (Al) gave him a Max Greiner, Jr. “Divine Servant” bonded bronze sculpture from the staff. We felt that it symbolized who he was as a person and his approach to ministry.
Rod will long be remembered for his humor, compassion, and love for God and humankind!
[Editor’s comment: Rodney O. Callahan is the son of Vonnie Strickland and the late, Rev. Mr. W. Otis Callahan of Waycross, GA. He is married to the former Caroline Carter, also from Waycross and his former next door neighbor. She retired from school teaching in May 2011 after thirty (30) years in the classroom.
They have three (3) adult daughters and six (6) grandkids.
Rodney graduated from Emmanuel College, The University of Georgia, Emory University (Master of Divinity), and Drew University (Doctor of Ministry). His doctoral project was entitled: “The Use of Christian Meditation at Moncrief Army Hospital with Persons Suffering with Distress.”
He entered the U.S. Army chaplaincy in 1974 after pastoring several small churches. In 1982 he requested release from active duty and stayed in the active Army Reserve until 1997. He had a total of twenty seven (27) years of commissioned service in the active Army and Army Reserve. The late F. Raymond Caulder, Chaplain (COL), USA swore him in as a 2nd Lieutenant as a chaplain candidate with the insignia of the Staff Specialist Branch in 1970.
After leaving active duty, he was the director for Mountain Top Boy’s Home (for troubled youth) in Sugar Valley, GA. In l987 he was selected to be a correctional chaplain with The Al Burrus Correctional Training Center (CTC) in Forsyth, GA. He left the CTC in March of 1997 for hospice where he served until August 12, 2011.
Other education:
Chaplain Officer Basic and Advance Courses
Division Chaplain Course
USAR Command and General Staff Course
ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education, five (5) quarters
First full time IPHC hospice chaplain to retire
First IPHC paratrooper chaplain. Served with the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC, 1975-1976
Certified Grief Counselor, The American Academy of Grief Counseling.
Rodney serves as a member of the Chaplains Ministries, IPHC Board to represent institutional chaplains while at the same time brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as an Army chaplain, both on active duty and in the reserve.]
Posted on
Sat, August 13, 2011
by Hugh Morgan