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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 11
BY SENATOR CROWE
COMMENDATIONS. Express condolences upon the death of Viola Cocran and to
posthumously commend her volunteer efforts at Slidell Memorial Hospital, which earned
her designation in the Guinness Book of World Records.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Viola Cocran2
and to commend posthumously her volunteer efforts at Slidell Memorial Hospital,3
which earned her designation in the Guinness Book of World Records.4
WHEREAS, Viola Cocran died on September 29, 2013, leaving her family and5
community to cope with the void remaining from the loss of a woman who had devoted her6
life to raising her family but, also, to a lifetime of service to Slidell Memorial Hospital; and7
WHEREAS, Cocran's daughter, Suzanne Mabie, reported that in the mid 1950s8
Mabie's younger sister was quite ill and was taken to the hospital in New Orleans, causing9
Cocran to understand, firsthand, the need for a full-service hospital on the north shore of10
Lake Pontchartrain; and11
WHEREAS, Cocran's commitment to making the hospital a reality, which began12
before the hospital was built, included her efforts as a member of the steering committee that13
met with the legislature to obtain permission to build the community hospital; and14
WHEREAS, Cocran began her volunteer work at Slidell Memorial Hospital in 195915
and continued until her retirement in March 2012, amassing over seventy-seven thousand16
volunteer hours; and17
WHEREAS, Cocran's involvement in establishing a hospital on the north shore18 SCR NO. 11
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moved from the planning stages to being present on opening day, assisting the first patient,1
a woman in labor who delivered her child in the brand-new hospital; and 2
WHEREAS, current volunteer director for Slidell Memorial Hospital, Laurie Manley,3
stated that the process to have Viola Cocran named in the Guinness book as having logged4
the most volunteer hours at a single hospital was begun prior to Cocran's death in September5
2013 and took two years to come to fruition; and6
WHEREAS, Manley reports that the process used by Guinness required extensive7
documentation, including copies of time sheets, letters from people who served with Cocran,8
a list of all volunteer positions she held, and photographs of her volunteering in various9
departments of the hospital; and10
WHEREAS, Manley also stated that Cocran served in every department of the11
hospital in her fifty-three years of service, which included years when she was raising her12
family and working a full-time job as well; and13
WHEREAS, current Slidell Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer, Bruce14
Clement, upon hearing of the Guinness designation, stated: "Viola gave Slidell Memorial15
Hospital and this community an amazing gift. She not only gave her time, but her heart and16
soul"; and17
WHEREAS, the hospital will be celebrating Viola Cocran's designation in the18
Guinness Book of World Records, as the individual who logged the most volunteer hours19
at a single hospital, with a reception and an unveiling of the award and are encouraging the20
community to attend to celebrate the exceptional gift of her time and her heart that Viola21
Cocran gave to her community.22
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby23
express their condolences upon the death of Viola Cocran and commend posthumously her24
volunteer efforts at Slidell Memorial Hospital, which earned her designation in the Guinness25
Book of World Records.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Bruce27
Clement at Slidell Memorial Hospital for presentation to the family of long-time volunteer28
Viola Cocran.29 SCR NO. 11
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
Crowe SCR No. 11
Expresses condolences upon the death of Viola Cocran and commends posthumously her
volunteer efforts at Slidell Memorial Hospital, which earned her designation in the Guinness
Book of World Records.