Marilyn Farmer Awarded "J.W. Fanning Humanitarian of the Year"

In honor of her years of dedicated service to Athens Regional and the local community, this year’s J.W. Fanning Humanitarian of the Year award goes to Marilyn Farmer.  

The Athens Regional Foundation selects individuals who have met an array of standards including having high personal values in their own life, while making significant contributions to Athens Regional through their time, interest, and commitment to the medical center and the community it serves. The recipient must also serve as a volunteer who improves the health, welfare or quality of life for area residents, and acts as an employee independent of the health system. 

“Marilyn has become somewhat of an icon in our community for doing for others, without concern for recognition or attention,” says Doc Elridge, President of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and former Athens Mayor. “Her years serving and shaping our community through our local government are frankly unmatched.” 

Farmer left St. Joseph’s Nursing School in 1958 after marriage, unable to remain in school as a married student during that time. While raising her four children she quickly became an active member of the community, serving on the Athens-Clarke County Planning Commission, Chairman of the Athens March of Dimes drive, Chairman of the Athens Cancer drive, a member of the Mental Health Association, and a member of the Athens Women’s Club. 

After graduating from the Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing in 1985 she accepted her first job as a charge nurse on the ARMC Family Care Unit. She was then elected to the Clarke County Board of Commissioners in 1986, which later became the unified Athens-Clarke County Board of Commissioners.

Farmer left ARMC, allowing her to support them as a commissioner without any conflict of interest and took a job as Coordinator of Patient Care at Family Life Enrichment Centers. During her 14 years on the Board of Commissioners, Farmer appointed women to the Hospital Authority of Athens-Clarke County, Board of Health, Airport Authority, Classic Center Authority, Planning Commission and more. Farmer saw the lack of female membership and leadership on these boards and was a huge part in changing this trend. 

Farmer was announced the winner of the Athena Award on February 27th, 2012 for her professional assistance to women in the Athens community. An international award sponsored by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and Heyward Allen Motor Company since 1988, the Athena Award honors women who have shown professional dedication to community service and who have actively supported other women in their careers and leadership development. 

Her position with Family Life Enrichment Centers developed into a passion for the elderly and supporting their families. In the past 12 years, she has worked with Arbor Terrace Assisted Living, Athens Heritage Nursing Home and currently Odyssey Hospice. 

One person who nominated her wrote, “Marilyn sets the bar high for all of us. She has lived through many challenges personally and professionally. Her standard is to uphold the highest level of integrity through exemplary citizenship and active listening to all that need to be included, all done through compassion and humor.” 

Over many years, Farmer has also dedicated her time and knowledge of healthcare to serve the Athens area. Even through her treatment for breast cancer she continued to unselfishly give her time and energy to the community. She has always been an advocate and supporter of Athens Regional, currently serving as the Chair of the Athens Regional Health System Board. Farmer has successfully led the health system to embrace a mission of academic medical education and helped to ensure the quality of our community’s healthcare. 

J.W. Fanning dedicated his life to community service and was a member of the Hospital Authority of Clarke County, serving as Chair from 1972-1973.  Today, the Athens Regional Foundation continues his legacy through the “J.W. Fanning Humanitarian of the Year Award.”  

Marilyn Farmer epitomizes the high standards of service ARMC maintains. As another person who nominated her wrote, “Marilyn Farmer is a great humanitarian and a gem of a human being.”