Mary-Jo Horton

One of the most important things in Mary-Jo Horton’s life is a well-organized, reliable calendar. “If I ever lost it I’d be in trouble,” she said with a smile. “There’s so much going on.”

That’s something of an understatement.

Horton, who has been a member of the Martin Memorial Auxiliary for 22 years, is heavily involved in community organizations such as Soroptimist International, Daughters of the American Revolution and Rotary Club.

But much of her time is also devoted to Martin Memorial. Horton serves as a member of the guest relations team, which greets visitors as they come into the Martin Memorial Medical Center and guides patients or visitors where they need to go. She works behind the front desk of the Medical Center as well, answering phone calls and providing information to visitors. Horton also serves as secretary of the Martin Memorial Board of Directors – a body she chaired from 1993-95.

“I haven’t learned how to say no very well,” she said. “I keep being asked to do things. I have the time, I have the interest. And this is a wonderful community. There are many different ways of contributing to it.”

And Horton has certainly contributed on many different levels. A native of Florida, Horton has been an influential leader her entire career. In the 1970s, she became the first female vice president of Burdines Department Stores. She also served on the Florida Hospital Association’s board of directors.

Through the years, much has changed at Martin Memorial. What began as one hospital in a tiny town has grown to a multi-faceted health system that serves two growing counties. Through it all, Mary-Jo Horton has been involved with that progress.

“There is always change going on and that’s part of the challenge,” she said. “I love to see things change, for people to be challenged and to think outside the box. It keeps you young.”

Joan Lemke

Joan Lemke is not the retiring type.

Not that she hasn’t tried it before. After 25 years in the banking industry she left that line of work only to take on volunteer duties. After working at the American Heart Association for years, she joined the Martin Memorial Auxiliary in 1995 and has been there ever since.

For the past two years, Lemke has served as the Auxiliary president, a job she relinquished April 1. But true to form, she won’t be going far – Lemke is staying on as recording secretary for the health system’s volunteer organization.

“I don’t think I could exist without volunteering,” she said. “I tell my family I’m going to retire and they laugh. They tell me I’ll never do it.”

Just keeping up with her family could be challenging enough for some people. She and her husband, Bill – who also volunteers at Martin Memorial – have 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, most of who still live in the area.

But Lemke’s heart is in volunteering. After volunteering at Martin Memorial’s Volunteers in Medicine Clinic and in pastoral services, Lemke was asked to interview for the Auxiliary’s vice president position. However, after the interview they called her back and said they wanted to offer her the president-elect position.

It’s easy to see why. She is cheerful and gregarious, whether at the annual holiday tree lighting or an Auxiliary meeting, a public relations event or just walking around the halls of the hospital.

“I love it. It’s been one of the highlights of my life,” she said. “I love all the volunteers and I love this hospital. I am so impressed with the doctors, the nurses and the administrators. We’re very blessed.”

Eva Kemp

Spin a globe, point at a random spot and there’s a good chance Eva Kemp likely has been there.

A native of England, her husband, Philip, had a job that sent them to places like Sri Lanka, Australia, and finally the United States. She’s also traveled to South Africa and India, wearing out passports along the way.

Through the years and her travels, Kemp has always been active in volunteer work – including hospitals. Though she did volunteer at hospitals in England and in Australia, she feels hospital auxiliaries seem to be “uniquely American.”

“There is no equivalent organization in England,” Kemp said. “My friends are amazed when I explain what we do and the number of hours we work. I tell them that it is a symbiotic relationship, one that gives great satisfaction and pleasure to us, along with an enormous sense of worth.”

Kemp joined the Martin Memorial Auxiliary in 2003, working in the maternal-child department.

“I particularly love kids,” said Kemp, a mother of three and grandmother of eight. “I truly have a soft spot for kids.”

After transferring departments in 2005, she accepted a new role in 2006 that came with a great deal of responsibility – president-elect of the Auxiliary. On April 1, 2008 she took over as president.

“I simply can’t stay at home. I don’t play golf and I wanted to do something, to go out and meet people,” Kemp said. “I’ve learned an awful lot (as president-elect) and I’m looking forward to this new role.”