Obituaries

Paula Anne Peacock

Photo of Paula Anne Peacock
PAULA ANNE PEACOCK of Little Rock, former UAMS Clinical Laboratory Manager died January 4, 2012 of a hemorrhagic stroke. Paula Peacock attended Harding University in Searcy and the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in Conway. In 1956 she graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology. In 1982 she received a Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). Paula enjoyed a long, distinguished career as a medical technologist at UAMS. During her 40-year tenure at UAMS, she served as Chief Technologist and Instructor in the UAMS Blood Bank, Chief Technologist for Chemistry and Quality Control, Assistant Laboratory Manager, and Clinical Laboratory Manager. Paula served in the last position from 1975 until she retired in 1998. She worked with seven different medical directors. As a well-respected role model to hundreds of employees and students in the UAMS Clinical Laboratory, Paula Peacock was the true epitome of a medical technologist. She held herself and others to the highest professional standards and guided both employees and students with compassion, dignity, and fairness. Paula was admired by her peers for her dedication to excellence in patient care and laboratory services. She was a tireless advocate for her patients and students. A strong supporter of education, particularly in the Department of Laboratory Sciences in the UAMS College of Health Related Professions, Paula offered her clinical expertise, resources, training, and mentoring to countless students. The UAMS community, the profession of medical technology, and generations of patients and medical technologists have benefited from Paula's years of dedicated service and friendship Among Paula's many professional contributions to UAMS is establishing a clinical pathology residency program at the university. In addition, she oversaw the expansion of the UAMS Clinical Laboratory and conducted the first successful College of American Pathologists (CAP) inspection of a new laboratory area. Nationally recognized as a leader in the field of medical technology, Paula held numerous leadership roles in professional associations, including President of the Arkansas Society of Medical Technologists, President of the Little Rock Medical Technologists Society, and the first President of the Clinical Laboratory Managers Society of Arkansas. Paula also served as Vice Chair and Consultant to the Board of Registry from 1991-1996. Paula's spirit of giving and volunteerism extended to the entire UAMS campus and beyond. In 1992, Paula served as a co-chair of the first capital campaign at UAMS, "Invest in Life." In this capacity, the university's employee campaign met and exceeded its fundraising goals. In addition, Paula was an active leader in the UAMS House of Delegates. In 1998, in honor of Paula's 40 years of service to UAMS, her students, the medical technology profession, and the community, the Paula Peacock Medical Technology Scholarship was established at UAMS. This endowed scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding medical technology student in the UAMS College of Health Related Professions. She is survived by her husband, Donald Thompson, four children, Philip Peacock, Dawn Raimer-Hall, Stuart Peacock, Laura Peacock and eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In addition, also surviving are two stepchildren, John Thompson, Elizabeth Schneiderman and four step-grandchildren. There will be a memorial service held on January 7, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home, 5800 West 12th Street Little Rock, Ark. 72204 Phone: (501) 661-9111 with Danny Burleson, officiating. To sign the online guestbook, go to http://www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com. A visitation will be held Friday, January 6, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home. Interment will be at Forest Hills Memorial Park, Owen Township, Arkansas following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Paula Peacock Medical Technology Scholarship via the UAMS Foundation Fund at UAMS, 4301 West Markham, #716, Little Rock, Ark. 72205 or to the American Cancer Society, 901 North University Avenue, Little Rock, Ark. 72205.

Published January 6, 2012

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