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From the “50th Anniversary Celebration: 1951 – 2001” Article by Lisa Warren, Maturity Editor featured in The Greeneville Sun, May 15, 2001.

Family Continues Care Fueled By Compassion Of Woman Called 'Granny'

K.D.M. Durham-Hensley Nursing Home Celebrates 50 Years Of Long-Term Care

Her real name was Louie Durham. But everyone knew her affectionately as "Granny" Durham. It has been 50 years now since she opened the doors of her home to provide long-term care to the elderly in the community.

While that "home" has certainly grown in space during the years, there is one thing that members of "Granny" Durham's family strive to keep the same. They work to keep alive the spirit of her caring and love throughout the hallways of her beloved long-term care facility, where she dedicated her life so many years ago.

Today, K.D.M. Inc., doing business as Durham-Hensley Nursing Home, provides care to about 100 patients in its facility, located on 55 Nursing Home Road in the Chuckey community.

It all began with one patient, Mrs. Durham's father, when she brought him to live with her in 1951. Later, an uncle, who lived in Missouri, became ill and needed long-term care. Mrs. Durham would have it no other way than to have him move to Chuckey to be with her and live out his remaining days surrounded by his family.

It didn't take long for word to get out in the community about the work being done by the caring Chuckey woman who was quick with a smile. She was encouraged by both the local health department and by a local physician, (now the late) Dr. C.D. Huffman, to consider taking in additional patients who had no other means of caring for themselves.

How could she say no to someone in need? Thus began Durham Rest Home.

In the early years of the "home," the late Mrs. Durham grew food for the residents in her own garden. She canned the food, prepared the meals, washed clothes and bed linens, and bathed patients. There was a specific time and day for practically every chore. There were chicken-killing days, green-bean breaking days - even grocery store days. "

Every Tuesday meant a trip to the grocery store, said Kathie Hensley-Ball, Mrs. Durham's granddaughter, who now serves as administrator of the long-term care facility.

Memories Of Mrs. Durham 

Some of Ball's first memories of her grandmother were those of Mrs. Durham's giving to others.

"She was a very caring, loving person," Ball said. "She lived in the nursing home when she started it. She was the one who got up lots of nights and sat with patients.

As a child, Ball said, she remembers fondly many hours spent with her grandmother at the nursing home. Not only did Ball develop her own strong love for the facility during that time, but she also said she learned the aspect of true Christian compassion by watching her grandmother in action.

"She is the reason I'm in this business today," Ball said.

In the mid-1960s, as the workload at the nursing home increased, so did Mrs. Durham's need for extra help there. Her son, Andy Hensley, worked at what was then called Magnavox (which later evolved into Philips Consumer Electronics Co., and still later, into the Taylor-White Companies, including Five Rivers Electronic Innovations.)

While working full-time at the huge television production plant, Hensley and his wife, Eva, also helped his mother at the nursing home.

Eventually, Hensley and his wife decided to devote full time to the facility, and finally he assumed the administrative duties from his mother, whose own health was beginning to wane.

The name of the facility was changed to Durham-Hensley Nursing Home, and 19 beds were added to help provide care for more patients.

As the years continued to pass, the two-story home that had been the heart of the nursing home was closed to residents, and a second, larger facility was built at the back of the existing house.

Further additions of beds were made, and in the mid-1970s, the nursing home had the capacity to care for 51 patients.

In February 1979, Mrs. Durham died; but her memory and work continued to remain fully alive with the continued expansion of her beloved nursing home.

Doctors and hospitals in this area continued to encourage Hensley to make additional room for patients because of the ever-increasing need for long-term care beds in the community.

In 1980, 49 more beds were added to the nursing home. Then, in 1985, 10 additional ones brought the total number of beds to today's count: 110.

In August 1992, the administrative torch was passed once again to yet another family member when Andy Hensley decided to scale back his duties at the home. That was when his daughter, Kathie Hensley-Ball, became the full-time administrator.

Ball had practically "grown up" in the nursing home. She also had worked in many official capacities at the facility, starting as a nursing assistant in 1971, and then in bookkeeping and later as assistant administrator.

Upon Hensley's retirement in 1993, the nursing home was leased by his children, which really meant no major change at the facility since Kathie was already serving as administrator.

Hensley's son, Mike Hensley, had worked in maintenance at the facility since 1988, and his other daughter, Donna Hensley-Coppage, had been active in various parts of the facility since 1984.

Today, the family involvement at the nursing home continues, with still others from the next generation. Ball's oldest son, Matt, is now in his 11th year of employment at the facility, working in maintenance.

Ball's youngest son, Heath, began working at the nursing home in 1994 but is now attending college, majoring in business administration.

Even though Andy Hensley "officially" retired from the nursing home about seven years ago, he continues to be an integral part of the facility today. He's typically seen most mornings walking the halls of the nursing home, enjoying a morning cup of coffee, and visiting with residents.

"You have to be a special person to work in a nursing home," he said.

Patience, compassion and a true love for people and their needs are what Hensley and his daughter agree are needed to fully appreciate and excel as an employee in a long-term care facility.

Throughout the years, they said they have tried to stay true to what "Granny" Durham always strived to achieve - to provide a loving environment to persons who may be spending their last years with the Hensley's.

Andy Hensley understands the pain that many families face when it comes time to decide upon placing a loved one in a nursing home. He also realizes that most residents there, like most individuals, would rather remain in own their homes during their golden years. Unfortunately, however, that isn't always possible.

"Our philosophy has always been to keep your loved ones at home for as long as you can," Hensley said, "but when you do need long-term care, we're here to help you."