A Centennial Thank You

Throughout 2025, Archbold celebrated our 100^th anniversary with employee celebrations, community events, and recognitions of our organization’s storied history. ​

Our organization is grateful for the support this community has shown us in the last 100 years, the participation of our employees and community members during our centennial celebrations, and the trust families across the region put in Archbold to care for their families. 

John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital opened in Thomasville in the summer of 1925. Fueled by community support and a mission to bring the nation’s best care to South Georgia, Archbold has been a leader in the region for a century. Archbold has grown since 1925, but our team remains as committed as ever to providing safe, innovative and compassionate care for our communities. Our year-long 100^th birthday celebrations brought together the Archbold team, former team members, community members and supporters, and more to celebrate the special role Archbold plays in this region.

“As the year comes to a close, we would like to thank each person who made Archbold’s centennial celebrations a success—it was a special year throughout the Archbold system,” said Darcy Craven, Archbold President/CEO. “I specifically enjoyed seeing the Archbold team come together to celebrate our history and the vital work we do every day.”

Archbold’s continued success and ability to serve the people of South Georgia and North Florida is the result of thousands of hardworking team members who have dedicated their careers, the support of countless financial supporters, and the continued belief that our region deserves world-class care in a hometown environment.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the Archbold team members, organizational leadership and board members, supporters and friends, government representatives, and so many others who have made Archbold what it is today,” Craven added. “I’d also like to thank every person who puts their trust in our team when they walk through the doors of an Archbold facility—we will always consider it an honor to serve you." 

Throughout the year, the story of Archbold’s charitable founding and region-leading care was celebrated at events and documented in publications around the region. One of the most significant elements of the celebrations was Archbold’s official centennial history book, A Century of Healing, written by C.L. Bragg. The 620-page book is the result of years of research and is available in the Archbold Auxiliary Gift Shop and other local retailers. For more information, please visit www.archbold.org/book.

The Archbold story was also shared in publications including Thomasville Magazine, WALB, and our own Archbold Magazine. “Today in History” articles shared throughout the year recognized the anniversaries of significant Archbold advancements and early leaders. A special centennial video, viewed more than 300,000 times, and interviews with Archbold and community leaders highlighted the significance of Archbold’s presence in our region. Each of these can be accessed through our Archbold Centennial webpage, www.archbold.org/100, which will remain active as an archive of this year’s celebrations. ​More than a thousand Archbold employees, community members, and supporters attended events celebrating the milestone. Archbold team members wore centennial shirts throughout the year with a historic image of the original John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital and gathered on the front lawn of Archbold Memorial to form a giant “100” during Hospital Week. They walked in the Thomasville Rose Parade with an Archbold float and celebrated the centennial with special Rose City Walk t-shirts. Supporters gathered for the Archbold Centennial Celebration at John F. “Jack” Archbold’s Chinquapin Plantation with members of the Archbold family.

We recognized the 100^th anniversary of the hospital’s dedication with a ceremony on the front lawn of Archbold Memorial on June 30. State government representatives, community leaders, team members and more gathered to dedicate the new Archbold historical marker and enjoy a 100^th birthday cake. In the weeks surrounding the dedication, signage hung in Downtown Thomasville and around the Archbold campus celebrating the history of Archbold and the centennial milestone. 

Archbold was born from a $1.5 million donation from John F. “Jack” Archbold made in memory of his father in 1923. Jack Archbold’s gift was the first in a century-long tradition of fervent community support of healthcare in South Georgia.

"As it opened in 1925, Archbold remains a not-for-profit, community-led organization committed to the people of the region," said E. Vann Middleton, President of the Archbold Foundation.

Many Archbold supporters and employees made gifts to the Archbold Foundation to commemorate the centennial anniversary. Donations made to the Archbold Foundation's Centennial Campaign helped to fund the New Maternity Center at Archbold Memorial. If you'd like to support the mission of the Archbold Foundation, please visit the Archbold Foundation website.

On behalf of the entire Archbold team, thank you for making the celebrations of our 100^th anniversary so special. We look forward to serving you and your family with safe, innovative, and compassionate care for the next century and beyond.