Alumna shares family bond to alma mater and nursing

Posted on Friday, October 27, 2023

Kayleigh Murphy Hester ’13 (center), her mother, Kim Murphy ’93 (left) and her grandmother, Doris Almand ’75

For Kayleigh Murphy Hester ’13, becoming a nurse was a natural calling because of the foundation laid by the three alumni generations of her family who have served in the role within the LaGrange community.

“I have three strong women in my family whose compassionate nature I strive to emulate for the patients I care for as a pediatric nurse at Children’s Clinic in LaGrange,” she said. “I would not be the person I am today without their example.”

When Hester started looking at nursing schools, she knew she wanted to enroll at LaGrange College, the same alma mater as her great-grandmother, grandmother and mother.

“I wanted to continue the family tradition of going to LaGrange College,” Hester said. “I thought it was only right and very fitting for me to follow suit.”

At first, she intended to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.

“I originally wanted to be a veterinarian and started college as a pre-vet student,” Hester said. “But when I worked as a medical assistant for my grandfather, Dr. Joe Almand, a longtime pediatrician in LaGrange, I decided I wanted to go to nursing school.”

She said her family’s connection to LaGrange College started with her grandmother, Doris Almand ’75, a retired pediatric nurse who wasin LC’s first Nursing graduating class.

“My grandmother served as a role model for us,” Hester said. “We became nurses because we wanted to follow in her footsteps.”

A year following Almand’s graduation, her mother, Wilma Billingsley ’76, completed her Nursing degree at LC and worked as a surgical nurse in LaGrange.

Almand’s daughter, Kim Murphy ’93, chose a different specialty than her mother and grandmother. Upon receiving her LC Nursing degree, she started working as a cardiac rehabilitation nurse at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center, her current employer.

In 2013, Murphy’s daughter Kayleigh graduated with her LC Nursing degree and enrolled in a master’s program at Auburn University to become a family nurse practitioner. Upon completing her graduate degree, she started working in pediatrics at the Children’s Clinic of LaGrange, where she remains to this day.

Hester said her favorite family memory at LC was at her pinning ceremony.

“My mother and grandmother got to come up and present me with my Nursing pin,” she said. “It was special to have them both there.”

She said her professors were a tremendous asset in helping prepare her for a career in the medical profession.

“They were all so knowledgeable about the particular subjects they taught and truly cared about us as students and wanted us to succeed,” she said.

Hester recommends LC because of the family environment.

“You can truly get to know your professors and classmates and not get lost in a sea of hundreds of people,” she said.

This year, Hester was recognized by the LaGrange Daily News as a 20 Under 40 recipient.

“I am humbled to have received this honor,” she said.

A quote that holds significant meaning for her is from her grandfather.

“He used to tell all his patients that ‘The smartest people in the world are readers,’” she said. “Now I tell that to my patients as well as my own children, in hopes of continuing to promote reading to kids in our community.”

Hester offered two pieces of advice that she strives to carry out every day: “’Give more than you expect to receive’ and ‘Be kind, for everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about.’”

Campus Notes

Registration is open for “A Tailor Made Journey from Lisbon to Porto,” a 3D Journeys excursion in Portugal. Hosted by President Susanna Baxter and First Gentleman Mark Huffman, the trip will be March 18-29, 2024. For more information on details and rates, email 3DJourneys@lagrange.edu.
Religion Professor Dr. John Cook will be featured in a documentary entitled, “Death in Britannia,” that will air on PBS on Nov. 1 at 10 p.m. It is about a crucifixion victim recently found in Britain.
Spiritual Life will host the Rev. Brian Tillman, director of inclusion and advocacy at North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, and President Susanna Baxter as guest speakers during its Chapel services on Sunday, Oct. 29, and Sunday, Nov. 5, respectively.
The Fine and Performing Arts Department will be hosting an open house for high school students and teachers on Monday, Nov. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. at West Side, Price Theater and Lamar Dodd Art Center. Attendees are asked to sign up online.
The Sports Management Club will sponsor an international internship to England and Scotland in Summer 2024. Students can apply for this and other study away courses on the Global Engagement website. The application deadline is Nov. 17.

Collegiate Enrichment Events

So You Think You Want to Work In Professional Sports

Tuesday, Oct. 31

11 a.m., Dickson Assembly Room

Kabrione Coleman, manager of experiential marketing for the Atlanta Falcons, will talk about her journey as an African American female working in the sports industry.

The History of Oreon Mann Smith Memorial Hall

Tuesday, Oct. 31

11:15 a.m., Bailey Room

In celebration of Georgia Archives Month, Felecia Moore, Director of the Suber Archives at LaGrange College, will deliver a presentation on the history of Oreon Mann Smith Memorial Hall.

Sports Management Club Advisory Team

Thursday, Nov. 2

10 a.m., Bailey Room

Meet the Advisory Team for Sports Management at LaGrange College. We have an 11-member Advisory Team consisting of individuals from the University of Georgia, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, Georgia Tech Athletics, Troup County Parks and Recreation and various sports management companies.

Video of the Week

Choose your seat at Price Theater

Take your seat in the spotlight with a naming opportunity in Price Theater.

Your named seat will be affixed with a plaque that can be in honor or in memory of a loved one, as a graduation gift, or support of a student in the arts. This opportunity also raises money to help the performing arts at LaGrange.

For more information, contact Andy Geeter at 706-880-8060 or ageeter@lagrange.edu.

Sports

Athletics

LaGrange College Athletics will increase its program from 16 to 18 teams, with the addition of Women’s Golf and Women’s Flag Football. The college’s Board of Trustees approved the two sports during its October meeting.

The Women’s Golf and Flag Football teams are set to begin competition in fall 2024 and spring 2025, respectively.

Recruiting will begin for the new teams in November.

Press Contact

Lindy Oller
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