Red Cross Gary Lady volunteered over 7,000 hours

Paying it Forward: A Gray Lady with the Red Cross
Personal tragedy leads Williamstown woman to help others at MMH
Marietta Times
By Erin E. O’Neill
October 21, 2013

The local chapter of the Gray Ladies organization was formed March 2, 1952 by Harriet Follett.

The Gray Lady service, a Red Cross volunteer women's organization, started in 1918 at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. Female volunteers acted as hostesses and provided recreational services to patients, most of whom had been injured during World War I.

Pat Thrash of Williamstown began her service as a Gray Lady with the Red Cross in 1979, where she logged 472 volunteer hours. When the volunteer program at Marietta Memorial Hospital was started in 1982, the Gray Ladies were welcomed in and trained to help patients.

Currently, Pat is one of only three Gray Ladies who still remain at the hospital and they are known by the distinctive uniforms they wear.

"As of last year, Pat has 7,757 hours as a volunteer with us," said Anna Vukovic, director of volunteer services. "She has worked in the surgical waiting area, the cancer center and right now she is helping in outpatient registration. She is very flexible and is just one of those people who is a pillar in the organization."
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