Chaplaincy

At Phoebe, we know spiritual and emotional health can be an incredibly important part of a patient’s healing journey.

Our Chaplaincy Department provides spiritual and faith-based care and support to patients, family members, and healthcare providers. Our chaplains minister to people of all faiths, as well as to people with no specific faith affiliation, helping bring hope, personal meaning, and purpose to everyone involved in the healing process. Our chaplains can also assist in contacting outside spiritual care providers to bring a familiar face to the help our healing family.

Our 24-hour Prayer Line is always available

Call 229-312-7729

When to Call a Chaplain

Patients and families are encouraged to call a Chaplain any time they feel they need support or spiritual assistance. Some healthcare situations that may benefit from Chaplain support include:

 

  • During times of difficult care decisions or care milestones, including pre-surgical visits, diagnosis or recurrence of a condition
  • For patients and families facing end-of-life care
  • During times of trauma, crisis, or grief, including loss of a loved one
  • Advanced directive support & education
  • To support faith-specific needs, including addressing unanswerable questions, and helping advise on religious or ethical concerns
  • Facilitating Honor Walks and other celebrations of life
  • To support medical caregivers, especially during especially trying times

No One Dies Alone

The No One Dies Alone program provides compassionate presence to dying patients who are alone at the end of life. Volunteers are available to:

  • Be present in silence, prayer, or gentle conversation
  • Provide non-medical companionship for 1-2 shifts
  • Respect the dignity, beliefs, and wishes of each patient

 

If you or your loved one needs this service, please let your nursing team know.

Volunteers are the hands and hearts of this sacred ministry who provide sacred presence and companionship during what can be the loneliest time for a patient. If you are interested in volunteering, training is provided for 1-2 hours volunteer shifts that align with your schedule. If you are interested in volunteering, please email [email protected] or [email protected].

To request Chaplain services, please call or talk to a healthcare provider while in the hospital.

Call 229-312-4670

Our Chaplaincy Program is led by Rev. Joey Holland, who both ministers and advises patients and caregivers directly and also coordinates a team of Phoebe Volunteer Chaplains.

Rev. Joey Holland MDiv, BCC

Manager of Chaplaincy
Click here to view bio

Rev. Shellie DuPlain MDiv

Staff Chaplain

Click here to view bio

 

Mary Hart

Chaplaincy Administrative Assistant

Volunteer Chaplain Program

The Phoebe Spiritual Care Department welcomes individuals who feel called to offer compassionate spiritual support to patients, families, and staff. Volunteer Chaplains serve as an important extension of our Spiritual Care team by providing a caring presence, active listening, encouragement, and spiritual support to those experiencing illness, hospitalization, grief, or life transitions.

Responsibilities

Volunteer Chaplains may:

  • Visit patients and families
  • Provide compassionate listening and emotional support
  • Offer prayer when requested
  • Support individuals of diverse faith traditions and beliefs
  • Assist with Spiritual Care activities and special events
  • Collaborate with the Spiritual Care Department staff

Qualifications

Applicants should:

  • Demonstrate spiritual maturity and compassion
  • Be comfortable interacting with people from diverse backgrounds and faith traditions
  • Possess strong listening and communication skills
  • Maintain confidentiality
  • Complete required volunteer onboarding and training requirements

Become a Volunteer Chaplain

Our Volunteer Chaplains help support our chaplaincy by sharing their gifts of ministry with patients, families, and staff one day each week at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. We’re always welcoming and training new minister volunteers. To apply, call the number below.

Call to Volunteer Today

Call 229-312-4670

Our Hospital Faith Facilities – Denson Interfaith Chapel

 

Denson Interfaith Chapel

In 2001, the Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Interfaith Chapel was named the Denson Interfaith Chapel in memory of its first Chaplain, Chaplain T. Dick Denson and his son, Major Todd Denson.

Located on the first floor of the hospital, the chapel is open to persons of all faiths for prayer, meditation and reflection, as well as for religious services coordinated by Chaplaincy staff.

Each week, Sunday worship service is held at 8:30 a.m.

 

Rev. Joey Holland

“It is common as a chaplain to journey with a patient and their family wanting to find answers to questions such as: What is going to happen next? What have I done to deserve this? or Why is this happening to me? As I perform spiritual history and assessments, the aim is to build relationship and trust between the hospital staff, the patient, and their families.”

Rev. Joey Holland joined the Phoebe Family on March 1, 2021 as the Palliative Care Chaplain, then in 2023 became Manager of Chaplaincy.

He specializes in emergency/trauma and intensive care chaplaincy services.

He was ordained as a pastor in 2000, and has served as a chaplain in healthcare at Gwinnet Medical Center and Emory University and law enforcement since 2015.

He has a Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Master of Arts in Worship Ministries (MAWM) from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has continued his education by completely his Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Care and Counseling Center of Georgia in Atlanta and becoming a Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) in 2023.

He also serves as a member of the Phoebe Clinical Ethics Committee.

 

 

Shellie DuPlain

 

Shellie DuPlain joined Phoebe in 2025. As Staff Chaplain, her areas of specialization include STICU, Women’s and Children’s, and Emergency & Trauma.

Shellie has served as a Resident and Intern Chaplain at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood, SC, an Intern Chaplain at University Healthcare (now Piedmont), and a Chaplain at Christ Community Health in Augusta, GA.

 Shellie has a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from the Rawlings School of Divinity at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA. She was ordained as a paster in 2024. She is currently in the process of obtaining an Endorsement from Coopertive Baptist Fellowship (CBF).