BRASELTON, Ga. – For more than 1,000 years, stained glass windows have illuminated places of worship and remembrance. The most famous of such windows date back to medieval churches and cathedrals, but, in the 21st century, right here in our community, five story-themed stained glass windows grace The Henry Edward Braselton Chapel at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Braselton.
The stained glass windows are the final element to complete the beautiful chapel, which has been made possible through a signature gift to The Medical Center Foundation by the family of the late Henry Edward Braselton – who served as mayor of Braselton from 1988 to 2001 and held leadership roles in the town council for more than 40 years. The windows, meticulously crafted over the course of 18 months by Kentucky artist Laura Mentor, were recently unveiled at an event hosted by The Medical Center Foundation.
“I can’t seem to find words that truly describe the beauty of the stained glass,” said Jim Moore, chairman of the Medical Center Foundation. “Sometimes we forget the impact art has on our life, until we are fortunate enough to stand before a masterpiece like this. Thank you for your gift to both the hospital and public art in this community.”
Mentor’s stained glass windows tell stories about communities and include details unique to a particular place. Two years ago, Mentor made the trip from Kentucky to Braselton to meet with the Braselton family. The inspiration for her design came from listening to the family’s special memories of, and treasured moments with, Henry – their husband, father, father-in-law and granddaddy. In addition, Mentor spent time walking through the beautiful landscape of Braselton and learned about the history of the community. Details from both the conversations and discovery of native species can be found in her masterpiece.
“The Henry Edward Braselton Chapel is a beautiful destination,” said Anthony Williamson, president of NGMC Braselton. “It means so much to our hospital, and we recognize how fortunate we are to have a dedicated sacred space to serve the spiritual needs of patients, their families, staff and the community.”
“It is an honor to be a part of today’s celebration to officially welcome these breathtaking works of art – all made possible through philanthropy,” said Carol Burrell, CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System. “Henry was a lifelong public servant and a visionary supporter of health care here in the Braselton area. He wanted access to medical care and quality jobs closer to home for the community he loved. In 2007, he stood with Dr. Jim Jackson and participated in the Cornerstone Celebration at the future site of this hospital. He was so proud then, and he would indeed be proud today to see the community accessing healthcare close to home.”
To learn more about The Henry Edward Braselton Chapel or The Medical Center Foundation, please call 770-219-8099 or visit www.TheMedicalCenterFoundation.org.
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ABOUT NORTHEAST GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER BRASELTON
Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Braselton is the state’s newest hospital, that’s not a replacement or relocation, in almost 20 years. NGMC Braselton brings services modeled around the programs of excellence at NGMC Gainesville – Georgia’s #1 Hospital (CareChex®) – to the Greater Braselton community. These include advanced surgical and medical care, emergency services, heart and vascular services, orthopedics, cancer treatment and neurosciences.
Along with, NGMC Gainesville, the two hospitals share 657 beds and a medical staff of 600 physicians representing more than 50 specialties. Both hospitals are part of Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), a non-profit that cares for more than 800,000 people in more than 13 counties, with a mission of improving the health of our community in all we do. Learn more at www.nghs.com/Braselton.