Chipley, FL — Community South Credit Union kicked off the Inaugural Community Keepers Award by honoring five local healthcare professionals and first responders. The winners were chosen from nominatations provided by members of CSCU and were selected based on their dedication to the welfare of our community in both a professional and personal capacity.

Each winner was presented with a $500 cash prize, as well as a $500 donation to a charity of their choice. The winners of the 2020 Community Keepers Award include Carl Bullock, Donnie Justice, Gynell Pettis-Hunter, Barnette Bell, and Brandy Hires.

• Carl Bullock is a CNA who has been caring for Covid patients through the entire pandemic. Carl received multiple nominations recognizing his faithful dedication to his patients and his passion for caring for seniors.
• Donnie Justice is a Deputy for the Holmes County Sheriff. During hurricane Sally, while on patrol helping others, his home caught fire and was a total loss. He and his family lost everything including their family pet. He has maintained a positive attitude, in spite of his family's loss.
• Gynell Pettis-Hunter works with the Ponce de Leon Volunteer Fire and Rescue. At the beginning of each year, Gynell gathers donations from all around the community and holds garage sales throughout the year. She uses the proceeds for things that are needed by the Ponce de Leon Fire and Rescue Department. At the end of the year, Gynell uses the remainder of the funds to purchase holiday gifts for underprivileged children.
• Barnette Bell is a phlebotomist working long hours at the hospital to make sure that every patient is tested in a timely manner. Ms. Bell takes her responsibility in the medical profession very seriously and strives to maintain a positive attitude even when she spends countless hours directly on the frontline with patients exposed to COVID-19.Ms. Bell treats every patient with kind-hearted respect and does whatever she can out of love for her patients.
• Brandy Hires is a nurse who has worked tirelessly throughout the entire pandemic. Earlier this year she had a patient that was dying, but the facility was on lockdown and visitation had been suspended. Brandy came up with a plan and reached out to her facility director to make arrangements to move the patient into a quarantine area near an entrance/exit so that her children and grandchildren could spend time with their mother and grandmother in her last moments.

  Jan Page, CEO, commented "We received so many wonderful nominations for people that go above and beyond to do more than what is expected. That's one of the great things about living here. We get to see people that we've known forever succeed and have a positive impact in our community."