A plaque has been placed in the Courtyard Café in honor of Felicia Dillard, a Nutrition Services employee for 48 years, who died last month.
Ms. Dillard, a Nutrition Services employee at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) for 48 years, died peacefully in her home on Jan 7. She was 68.
She was born and raised in Nashville and attended Tennessee State University, earning her degree in early childhood education. Ms. Dillard joined Vanderbilt in 1975, fulfilling numerous roles as a member of the VUMC Nutrition Services team.
“She was a servant leader; whatever responsibilities needed to be taken care of that day she was always ready to fill that need,” said Ernestine Brantley, director of Retail in Nutrition Services.
“Felicia was a perfect example of walking out VUMC’s Credo. She exemplified those behaviors every day and always encouraged those around her to do the same,” said Charlotte Dinkins, manager in Nutrition Services.
“Miss Fefe, as we called her, never met a stranger; she treated everyone like they were family and really made people feel seen,” added Brantley.
“I know for all of us here who knew her [the plaque] a wonderful way to keep her memory alive,” Brantley says.
Ms. Dillard is survived by her three sons, Terrence Dillard, Jamon Hester and Travis Bowman, and granddaughter, TaKayela Gabrielle Dillard. A memorial service was held Jan. 18 at New Generation Funeral Home.
