THE ‘VOICE’ OF CUMBERLAND MEDICAL CENTER FOR ALMOST 6 DECADES, BETTY THREET PASSES
The “Voice” of Cumberland Medical Center for almost decades has passed. Betty Threet, 82, passed away February 20th.
Obituary:
A Memorial Service for Betty Ann Threet, age 82, of Crossville, TN, who passed away on February 20, 2023, will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Pomona Methodist Church at 1:00 PM. Survivors: daughter, Barbie Brown (Dennis); son, Brian Threet; grandchildren, Joshua Brown (Tara), Luke Brown (Angel), Krista Brown, and Regina Fish; great grandchildren, Bryson, Kasen, and Karli; sisters, Paulette Reed, Sola (Lesley) Goss, and Judy Graham Swallows; brother, Jerry Lynn Graham (Teresa); and multiple nieces and nephews.
Here is an historical review of Betty’s career at CMC:
Betty Threet, at the age of 23, found a job at Cumberland Medical Center. Little did she know that would be the first and only job she would have throughout her life until she would retire. Betty started working at (CMC) Cumberland Medical Center in December 1963. Her first full shift was January 1st, 1964 in the Admitting Department. She was hired by Administrator Robert Couch. After a few years, Mr. Couch then decided to move her to communications making her the switch board operator, a job that she would keep for the rest of her career. If you were ever in the hospital and heard Betty calling Doctor Ivey, there was no mistaking who you were hearing. Many people have told Betty’s family that hearing her voice over the intercom help calm them down. For almost six decades, Betty Threet has been the ‘voice’ of Cumberland Medical Center. One of the many interesting stories that Betty has to tell is being her being able to identify a voice that had called in a bomb threat. She had heard everyone call into the hospital so much she was actually able to identify the caller to law enforcement. All the while working at the hospital, she managed to raise 3 children and continue to work full time. From the beginning of her journey, Betty saw several changes in hospital administrators. F
irst Robert Couch, then Edwin Anderson, then Jim Mackin, then again Edwin Anderson, then Barry Wagner, then Larry Moore, then Jeremy Biggs, and eventually retiring under Administrator David Bunch. In her career, she saw a total of 7 different Administrators come and go. When Betty started her 51st year, she was awarded her own personal parking spot with her name on a sign “Reserved for Betty Threet”. Throughout her 57 years of service, she not only saw the changing of command, but she also saw a small hospital go from 82 beds the year she started to a present-day 189-bed facility. But more than just an increase in beds, Betty saw many other advances from the small rural hospital that had been started by May Wharton decades earlier. In 1969, Betty watched the renovation that created the 2nd floor and a total of 127 beds, 45 additional beds plus a 5-bed ICU. Then the North wing was added and the bed count went to 159, and a new ICU. More expansions came in 1994 and 2002.
irst Robert Couch, then Edwin Anderson, then Jim Mackin, then again Edwin Anderson, then Barry Wagner, then Larry Moore, then Jeremy Biggs, and eventually retiring under Administrator David Bunch. In her career, she saw a total of 7 different Administrators come and go. When Betty started her 51st year, she was awarded her own personal parking spot with her name on a sign “Reserved for Betty Threet”. Throughout her 57 years of service, she not only saw the changing of command, but she also saw a small hospital go from 82 beds the year she started to a present-day 189-bed facility. But more than just an increase in beds, Betty saw many other advances from the small rural hospital that had been started by May Wharton decades earlier. In 1969, Betty watched the renovation that created the 2nd floor and a total of 127 beds, 45 additional beds plus a 5-bed ICU. Then the North wing was added and the bed count went to 159, and a new ICU. More expansions came in 1994 and 2002.I think I can speak for most in saying that Cumberland Medical Center, now under the leadership of Covenant Health, will never be the same.
Here’s to you Betty, for a job well done. May you have a wonderful retirement. Betty Threet Retired from CMC, with 57 years of service, December 4th, 2020, with the longest work history of any employee ever before at CMC. A record which will probably never be broken…….
