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Whitfield Regional Hospital held a dedication ceremony for the Labor and Delivery department last Thursday, September 29. The department was dedicated to the late Dr. Maurice Fitz-Gerald, and was officially named the Dr. Maurice Fitz-Gerald Birthing Center.

“We’re here to celebrate the opening of Labor and Delivery, and to honor an amazing physician who was in this community for many years and delivered countless babies,” said WRH CEO Doug Brewer.

According to Brewer, around 50 babies have been born at Whitfield since the unit reopened in April.

“There were a lot of people involved in this OB program coming back to the community. Without their diligence and willingness to take some hits, this thing wouldn’t be here today,” said Brewer. “It’s such a joy to have this program here and it’s one of the joys of being in healthcare to do what we do here.”

Mack Fitz-Gerald, Dr. Fitz-Gerald’s son, shared remarks on his father and the impact he had on Whitfield and the Demopolis area. He expressed his thanks to the hospital board for how respectful they were to his father before his passing.

“I want to tell everyone here how much my dad loved them, how much he loved working with them, and how honored and proud he was to work with you all,” said Fitz-Gerald.

He went on to say that when his father was the chairman of the board, there was a decision to close the Whitfield labor and delivery, to which his father said “We just closed this hospital.” However, when the unit reopened he was happy that labor and delivery had opened again to serve the community.

“The job of a Christian is to make a mark. And our dad left his mark,” said Fitz-Gerald.

To end the ceremony, Brewer revealed a framed scrub shirt hung behind the nurse’s station. The scrub belonged to Dr. Fitz-Gerald and was one of three found during renovations.

“We felt it was appropriate to have one of his scrubs framed so we know he’ll always be on the unit with us,” said Brewer.