VALDOSTA — Jeremy Henry was named Teen Volunteer of the Year for Georgia during the 36th annual meeting for the Georgia Society of Nursing Home Activity Directors in Jekyll Island.

At age 14, Henry began building lifelong relationships at Lakehaven Nursing Home in Valdosta. He dedicates 20 hours a week to the residents, coming in after school, on weekdays, and spending his Saturdays volunteering as well. During the summer, he has been known to “work” 40 hours a week from his heart, not paid.

Nichole Whitley, activity director, said, “Jeremy has been doing an outstanding job going on four years, all with a smile on his face. The residents think of him as a friend, grandson, and the go-to guy. Their faces light up every time they see him. He visits all 90 residents in the nursing home.”

Henry plays the guitar or piano for them while singing a melody, serves them, cracks jokes, escorts them, throws personal birthday parties, reads devotionals, and listens to them. He helps decorate and serve at parties, pushes and encourages patients to attend group activities, handles resident’s mail, maintains facility scrapbook, and assists staff in anything he can.

“These are just a few examples of what he does for all of us at Lakehaven Nursing Home,” Whitley said. “We all love Jeremy and jokingly tell him he needs to just move in with us.”

Henry attends Valdosta State University, where he is studying music education.