There was plenty of love to go around last week at Riverside Lifelong Health & Rehabilitation Center–Mathews (formerly Riverside Convalescent Center–Mathews) as employees celebrated Lynne Callis’s 40th anniversary at the center. The celebration included food and fun with co-workers past and present and with family members.

Administrator Melissa Evans launched the celebration with a rundown of Callis’s history with Riverside, along with some highlights compiled by MDS Coordinator Jenny Poole.

Callis’s career with the Riverside system began with the former Rosewood Nursing Home on Gwynn’s Island, which was “practically in her backyard,” said Evans.

“Back then, Lynne wore a white uniform and her starched, white nursing cap to work,” said Evans. She said a resident there had to receive iron injections, and even when Callis wasn’t on duty, she would drop by to give the injections. When laundry was done, Callis would hang the clothes out to dry to make sure the residents had clean clothing.

“(Former director) Guy Shelton recalls that her children would run through the field often and bring her dinner over at the nursing home,” said Evans.

While Riverside had purchased the Rosewood property with the intention of expanding, it was decided that the best way to serve the community was to look for property in the town of Mathews, said Evans, and the facility on Main Street was built in 1986. Moving day was Jan. 2, 1987, and Callis was listed as the third employee in the new facility.

Callis began with Riverside after graduating from the Riverside School of Nursing in 1978, and over the course of her tenure, she worked at Horn Harbor, James River, and New Point nursing homes, all Riverside facilities. She served under 11 directors of nursing and seven facility administrators and has been everything, from the activity director to a floor nurse to assistant director of nursing. Her current job is business office manager.

“Not an easy job,” said Evans. “But that doesn’t include the many times that she has cooked and delivered food, performed housekeeping activities, worked as a nurse’s aide, and has been our timekeeper, making certain that we all get paid.”

Mary Pope, former medical supply coordinator, talked about her personal memories of Callis doing such things as attending morning meetings and evacuating residents to the fire station when a storm was threatening.

“Anyone that knows Lynne knows it’s not a job and has never been a job,” said Pope. “It’s her heart … We have lost so much of our humanity and traded it for technology, but Lynne is one who remembers community.”

Former nursing director Vickie Viers thanked Callis for all her support, saying, “The challenges were monumental, but we overcame them together and were stronger.” Jenny Poole read letters from people in the Riverside Health System who praised Callis, including RHS President Bill Downey, who thanked her for everything she has done.

Callis told those present that a nurse was all she had ever wanted to be, from the time she was little and watched her aunt dress in her uniform. “I thought it was awesome,” she said. She spoke of the people whose lives are coming to a close, and of being able to sit and hold their hands.

“I have done that with so many people,” Lynne said. “It’s a privilege many people do not know. I hope to continue to do that.”