As the center's chief executive officer, Taylor graciously accepted the award in memory of her late husband who gave 28 years of service to the people who came to the center for medical attention until his death in 2004.
"My husband had the kind of bedside manners that would allow his patients to talk to him about their health problems," she said. "If they couldn't afford medication he would pay for it."
Taylor's widow called him "a country doctor" who grew up in Jackson and dedicated his life to serving the disadvantaged.
His daughter, Juanyce Taylor is attending the University of Mississippi
Her granddaughter, Courtney Jones, wants to become a pediatrician.
Taylor said her late husband would have been right in the midst of the the center's recovery team that has worked with the residents along the Mississippi Gulf Coast who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
"We sent an entire medical team to the Gulf," she said. Dr. P.W. Hill, who was among the award recipients, headed that team.
Personnel from the center were first dispatched on Sept. 5 "after we could get into the area," Taylor said.
There was a steady stream of center personnel during a four-week period. Another team is due to leave for the coast next week.
Other awards presented were:
* Kimberly Williams, administrative support staff.
* Moriece Parker, ambulatory care center.
* Rosie Little, Como clinic.
* Sonya Havard, Clarksdale clinic.
* Sharon George, Delta Area Rural Transit System.
* Lutitia Shedwick, Medical mobile unit, school base clinic.
* Lakita McCoy, Tunica clinic.
* Denise Simpson, supervisor.
* Dr. Andres Ramgoolam, provider.
* Raymond Cole, treasurer, and Robert Grayson, vice president, board of directors.