Brig. Gen. Amelia Kennedy, Ret., of Louisville, who was recently named Alumna of the Year at East Central Community College, has traveled to places throughout the world and holds degrees from four different colleges, but she said some of the best times of her life were spent on the Decatur campus.
Kennedy, who will be honored Oct. 2, 2010, during Homecoming activities said of the recognition, “It is indeed an honor and a privilege.”
“I have always tried to relay to my soldiers and others what an excellent idea it is to go from high school to a junior college. It is a much easier transition. It is small enough that one is able to know everyone and make lifelong friends and a community college provides a good basic education.”
After completing her associate’s degree at East Central, Kennedy continued her education at Mississippi State University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in social work.
She began working for the Mississippi Department of Health in 1974, primarily in the infectious diseases department. She was the State Director of the Immunization Program and was also the first Nurse Epidemiologist in the state. She also served on the Disaster Alert Relief Team (DART) and worked many disasters such as hurricanes, a railroad wreck and spill, MRSA outbreak, Hepatitis outbreak, Typhoid Fever cases and Tuberculosis outbreaks.
During this time, Kennedy returned to the classroom and earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Mississippi University for Women and the master of public health degree from the University of Texas.
Following the completion of her master’s degree, Kennedy joined the Army Nurse Corps in 1983.
“I always had an interest in the military. Through the Health Department, I enjoyed being able to work during disasters. I regretted not being able to serve in Vietnam or work during Hurricane Camille because I was not old enough. I felt like this was a good way to serve. I am extremely patriotic. I am proud to be a nurse, a veteran and an American,” Kennedy said.
Career stops have included a stint as a charge nurse and IV nurse for the VA Medical Center in Jackson from 1988 to 1992 and a radiological nurse and infection control nurse at St. Dominic’s Hospital from 1993 to 1996.
Kennedy returned to the State Health Department and worked in epidemiology until 2001 when she began duties as the Deputy State Surgeon for the Mississippi Army National Guard.
At this time, she was also serving as President of the Mississippi Public Health Association and was Chairman of the 2001 Annual Meeting of MPHA, which began on September 11.
“I was already working full-time for the Guard. So I loaded up a van and went to pick up a friend who was going to the coast with me to attend the convention. When I got there, the TV was on and I watched the second plane hit the World Trade Center.
“It was just chaos. We had to change the entire program at the last minute due to the key speakers’ inability to fly into Mississippi. Dr. Ed Thompson, State Health Officer at the time, became the keynote speaker and did an excellent job, without having a single note or a moment’s preparation.”
Kennedy said the primary responsibility of her position as Deputy State Surgeon was to assure that the troops maintained medical readiness to mobilize and deploy. She was serving this role full-time in Jackson when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.
“I spent 48 days active duty after Hurricane Katrina, functioning as the Officer in Charge of the Medical Treatment Facility at Gulfport. This was a humbling experience that I would have hated to miss, but it was still quite difficult. There was no water, ice, electricity or bathroom facilities for two weeks. It made one appreciate everything we take for granted,” she said.
She and her unit supported some 10,000 plus guardsmen from all over the U.S. who came to help with the cleanup efforts.
“I was able to ride in a helicopter over six counties in South Mississippi that received the most damage. Hancock County looked like splinters. I just couldn’t stop crying.”
In 2005, Kennedy went on active duty as the Case Manager Supervisor for Community Based Health Care Organization in Alabama.
“This organization covers the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee in managing the health care for those soldiers injured or becoming ill during the Middle East Conflict. The soldiers are allowed to go home, receive their healthcare locally and are case managed by the staff of the CBHCO. This prevents the soldiers from having to remain at an active duty medical facility for long periods of time.”
Kennedy returned to Camp Shelby in 2007, where she served as Officer in Charge of Medical Soldier Readiness Processing.
“I managed a staff of 35 who medically and dentally prepare the troops for deployment. We conducted screenings, administered blood tests and vaccines , provided optometry checks, hearing exams, dental exams and case managed medical issues identified during the screenings. Some 50,000 soldiers are processed through Camp Shelby annually.
Kennedy recently retired from the military as Brigadier General after having served almost 27 years. She is a member of the Mississippi Public Health Association, the National Guard Association of the United States and the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States.
“The best part of my career has been knowing that I had something to do with making sure soldiers were fit for duty and ready to be deployed and that I had an impact on their success-a positive effect on them.”
While reminiscing of her days as an East Central student, Kennedy noted the changes that have taken place.
“When I was here you could only miss two classes per semester without an excuse. I think that is an excellent idea because it puts boundaries out there. We had an 8 p.m. curfew in the evenings, except for date night, which was one night per week and allowed you to stay out until 10:30 p.m.
“Girls had to wear dresses or skirts, no pants. When we would go to physical education classes we would have to wear a raincoat over our shorts.
Kennedy especially enjoyed participating in sports as a student.
“I considered myself an athlete. A tennis team was started while I was a student at East Central. Those of us who made the team traveled to games with the baseball team. I really enjoyed that! I also enjoyed playing intramurals.”
She didn’t know her roommate before classes started, but said they became fast friends.
“ Genie (Callahan Hall) and I are still friends today, although we only get to see each other once a year at the Neshoba County Fair, which I go to every year! Our dorm room was the gathering place. We also hung out at the Student Union and played cards.
“I was fortunate to make long-lasting friendships that I still maintain and obtain an education as well. I consider myself lucky to have been surrounded by good, hard-working people and good, Christian parents, as well as great educators. The late Brigadier General Denver Brackeen, who was Dean of Students at ECCC when I was there, was a great influence on my life and is the main reason I joined the military.
“I was also fortunate to have had the opportunity to go back for a second career. A lot of people don’t ever have that opportunity.”
Kennedy currently resides in Louisville in the home of her late parents, James Ernest and Polly Strait Kennedy. She works part-time as a registered nurse at Noxubee General Hospital in Macon.
In her free time, Kennedy stays very involved with her family, which includes her two sisters, Ina Eaves and Paula Parker, both of Louisville. She also has two nieces and two nephews and seven great-nieces and nephews who keep her busy.
“I have no children of my own, but I’m crazy about all of these. I plan to provide the shuttle to take these ‘little people’ to school, ball practice, ballet and all the while encourage them to come to ECCC to begin their college educations!”