Enola Mary Jermyn

Enola Mary Jermyn, 94, of Gulfport, died September 15, 2005. Miss Jermyn lead a full and active life, enjoying and serving her family, her church, her country and her community. Born in Gulfport on October 19, 1910, Miss Jermyn was in the first class of students at the Mississippi City School, preceding her ten brothers and sisters at that institution. Upon graduation from Gulfport High School in 1928, Miss Jermyn became employed with the Edgewater Hotel. She joined the Western Union Telegraph Co. in Gulfport as they changed over from Morse operators to Teletype printers. The depression brought a cutback in positions, so Enola accepted a position as a relief operator, which saw her traveling to Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida for Western Union. In 1937, she moved to Chicago to attend Mt. Sinai's nursing school. She received her nursing certificate from Mount Sinai Hospital in 1939, thus beginning a long and successful career in that field. Miss Jermyn was employed at various hospitals during this time including the Veterans Administration Hospital in Topeka, Kansas, Charity Hospital in New Orleans and King's Daughters Hospital in Gulfport. In May 1942, she joined the U.S. Army, and was originally stationed at Camp Shelby. Enola soon received overseas orders. Her convoy endured enemy attacks before safely arriving at Oran, Algiers. For four years, Miss Jermyn served with the 15th Evacuation Hospital in North Africa and Italy, including Sicily, Palermo, Anzio, Rome and Milan. Her unit was on its way to the Pacific and literally was in the Panama Canal when V-J Day occurred. During her tour of duty, Enola was always near the front lines, experiencing the harsh reality, danger and discomforts of war. Her unit, the 15th Evac, received great recognition at the conclusion of the war as a result of its exemplary service, including the Meritorious Unit Citation. In 1951, she received a degree in nursing from Western Reserve College in Cleveland, Ohio. She returned to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to be close to her family and where she continued her nursing career at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Biloxi. She received a special Commendation from the Veterans Administration for her role in rescuing a patient from a ledge. She officially retired from nursing in 1973, with the title of Assistant Chief of Evening Nursing. During her nursing career, Miss Jermyn belonged to a number of professional associations including the Coast District Nurses Association, where she held various offices, the Mississippi Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association. She served as High Blood Pressure Chairperson for the American Heart Association and was a nurse for the Harrison County Civil Defense Unit. After retiring from the V.A., Miss Jermyn began a second career, becoming a full time volunteer with the American Red Cross. Over the next twenty years, she worked tirelessly on behalf of the agency along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, being specifically assigned to the Naval Construction Battalion Base in Gulfport. It was also during this time Miss Jermyn traveled to the U.S. Navy Support Facility on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to establish that island's first Red Cross office. At the age of 71, she was selected from among a large group of candidates from across the country for this tour of duty. She spent seven months at Diego and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge, even though she suffered a broken leg while there. Later, she completed a one year assignment for the American Red Cross Korea District at Kunsan Air Force Base in South Korea. In recognition for many years of dedicated service, Miss Jermyn was named an Honorary Seabee on April 30, 1993 by the U.S. Naval Construction Force. At the age of 85, Miss Jermyn officially retired. Miss Jermyn was a devout Catholic, and spent much time, particularly in her last years, in service to her parish community at St. James Catholic Church as an Altar Society member, Eucharist minister and sacristan. Until her 90th year, she was committed to a Holy Hour of prayer in the middle of the night. She was also a strong supporter of St. James Elementary School, which several of her nieces and nephews attended. During her lifetime, she made numerous trips to the Marian Shrine in Lourdes, France, often volunteering to accompany patients from across the United States in need of assistance. Enola was very close to all her brothers and sisters, and she was a beloved aunt to her many nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her. Miss Jermyn was preceded in death by her grandparents, Robert and Eliza Jermyn and John and Louisa Peppard; her parents, George and Mary Ellen Jermyn; and her brothers, George L. Jermyn, William E. Jermyn, John A. Jermyn, Richard A. Jermyn, Sr., and Patrick E. Jermyn. Miss Jermyn is survived by her sisters, Thelma J. Duling of Eskridge, Kansas, and Catherine J. Wood of Pass Christian, her brothers Robert C. Jermyn of Gulfport, Thomas J. Jermyn of Somerset, Massachusetts and Harry A. Jermyn of Albuquerque, New Mexico, more than thirty-five nieces and nephews, numerous great nieces and nephews, numerous great grand nieces and nephews and cousins. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, September 19, 2005, at 11:00 A.M. at St. James Catholic Church in Gulfport, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Handsboro Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to St. James Catholic Church, 366 Cowan Road, Gulfport, MS 39501. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, O'Neal Road in charge of arrangements.