They are giving. They’re compassionate. They’re willing to sacrifice their time and energy to serve others. Since 1979, the Office of the Governor has been singling out the great volunteers across the state and this year, three local women were recognized with the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award.

Elsie Keehnle and Margarette Latham, both Vidant-Beaufort volunteers, and Gayle Morgan, volunteer services assistant, were recognized recently at hospital for the honor.

Morgan has served as Vidant-Beaufort’s volunteer services assistant for the past 11 years — her award, recognition in the Director of Volunteers category. Her dedication to hospital volunteers in order to help them be successful in the work is what singles her out, according to Jan Hamblin, manager of volunteer services.

She is much more than an assistant, “she is a leader, advocate, mentor and a friend to all our volunteers,” Hamblin said. “She spends time with (volunteers), listens to them, and loves them.  She has a personal relationship with each one of them and is genuinely interested in their worlds.”

Morgan is credited for the reason that most volunteers continue returning year after year, and her commitment does not stop at the volunteer level, Hamblin said.

“She makes it her business to do whatever she can to make our hospital the best it can be and to see that our patients and their families get what they need,” Hamblin said.

Described by her co-workers as a “mover and a shaker,” Morgan is affectionately referred to by one of the hospital chaplains as “Roller Skates” due to her self-proclaimed “I’m on it!” approach to service.

It’s only taken two and a half years for Elsie Keehnle to make her mark on Vidant-Beaufort — she’s referred to as indispensable by Hamblin. In addition to the two volunteer shifts she works each week, Keehnle often substitutes for others, and come summer, when most are taking off on vacations, Keenhle continues to work her shifts.

“Our hospital employees all know her; she is here so much that they often ask her when she is going on the payroll?  Now that’s commitment!” Hamblin said.  “Elsie doesn’t ask for, or expect accolades. She just does her thing because that’s who she is.”

Since Margarette Latham first began volunteering at Vidant-Beaufort Hospital’s front desk, the hospital has undergone many changes: the front lobby desk was physically moved through renovation, the staff and job responsibilities changing over the years with new management and new healthcare regulations.

“She is the first face that greets all who enter our lobby on Monday mornings and because of that, we know they are being greeted with kindness and compassion,” Hamblin said.

At 95 years old, Latham still has staying power — over the past 29 years she’s accumulated 4,510 volunteer hours.

“We have seen many volunteers come and go. Margarette is a refreshing constant,” said Hamblin.  “First impressions set the tone and are hard to reverse. … On Monday mornings, Margarette is delightful. She makes people feel welcomed.”

Governor’s Volunteer Service Award honors the true spirit of volunteerism by recognizing individuals, groups and businesses that make a significant contribution to their community through volunteer service. Any person, group, or business from the public, non-profit and private sector may be nominated for an award, according to the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service website.