*For last year’s Christmas trip, Lyndy and Randy took their family to visit Gatlinburg, Tennessee.*

*Randy and Lyndy took their kids – Isaac, Abby, Bella – on their first helicopter ride while on vacation in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.*

During Easter 2009, Lyndy enjoyed some special time with her Granny (Lawanah Tefteller) and her sister, Chevi Moore, who is 12 years younger than her and works as a wound care nurse at CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System.

As if being a mother to three girls and one boy, and being an experienced nurse, and being a dedicated wife, friend, employee, and community member wasn’t enough, Lyndy Wheat recently took over as administrator of Magnolia at The Oaks, a memory care facility in Texarkana, in the fall of 2020. “I truly love Alzheimer/dementia residents,” Lyndy said. “Every day is new and different, and we love to jump into our residents’ world no matter where they are mentally today and love them up.”

Lyndy did not start her career with this kind of role in mind. In fact, in the beginning she planned on becoming a teacher. “I grew up Genoa and attended Genoa Central School,” Lyndy said. “I went straight to Texarkana College out of high school. I ended up becoming a CNA while I was pregnant with my oldest daughter, Lauryn, and began working for Ark-La-Tex Home Health and Hospice as an aide. It was this point in my life I found my passion loving and caring for senior adults.”

Lyndy quickly enrolled in the LVN Program at Texarkana College, with a 3-month-old at home, no less. She found herself leaning heavily on her family support system as she found her footing in the nursing world. “I was living with my parents, Pam and Gary Green, while I went to school,” Lyndy said. “They’ve always been a huge part of my support system. Growing up, they attended all my basketball games and events during high school. I was also very close my entire life to my maternal grandparents, Alvin and Lawanah Tefteller.”

Lyndy recalls days spent with her grandfather as a child, and attributes much of who she is today to their time spent together. “My Papaw was 13 years older than my grandmother,” Lyndy said. “Therefore, he retired in the ’80s from RRAD and got to babysit me until I started kindergarten while my parents worked. He and my daddy played a huge part in the young lady I am today. These two men taught me work ethic, character, integrity, and most importantly, love.”

Lyndy’s lifelong passion of caring for the elderly certainly displays a love for people. Not only has she taken care of her own grandparents, she and her husband, Randy, are now moving into her grandmother’s house to be closer and care for her after the passing of Lyndy’s grandfather.

“She is a very stubborn independent 83-year-old but after losing my grandfather, she needs us more now than ever as she learns to navigate life after losing my precious Papaw of 57 years of marriage,” Lyndy said. “He took very good care of her to the point that we joke about how well he spoiled her, and now we are helping her learn to navigate life and take care of the things he always took care of. For instance, he always took care of all the finances, or as he would call it ‘bookkeeping,’ any maintenance, and repairs around the house. We have even had to help her learn to pump her own gas because Papaw never let her car get below a half a tank.

*Lyndy’s grandparents, Alvin and Lawanah Tefteller, with her and Randy at their wedding in April 2009.*

“I believe with all my heart that God called me 20 years ago to be a nurse because of my heart, and the love and relationship I’ve always had with my grandparents. My Papaw always called me “his toot toot,” a nickname that I still hold dear today. He was one of the most kind, most gentle, and most honest men I have ever had the opportunity to know and love. He was my earthly example of what the love of Christ is supposed to look like.”

Lyndy cares for her residents in much the same way she does her own grandmother. In fact, her residents’ families commented that she is a one-of-a-kind administrator that makes a daily difference in their family members’ lives. “I love interacting with the residents above every aspect of being an administrator at the Magnolia. Every resident that moves into my building gets a small piece of my heart, and when one moves out or passes on, they stay with me,” Lyndy said. “I believe that for us to provide the best care possible, we must get to know the residents and their families. It’s hard enough for families to place their loved ones in a facility, especially when they have a diagnosis such as Alzheimer’s/dementia. My goal is to have an open-door policy, meaning I personally want families’ honest input on how we are doing. The status quo isn’t good enough for me.”

“It’s the way our administrator looks at our residents and sees beyond what the eye can see,” the facility’s Facebook says. “It’s the connection she makes with them. We are so thankful that God placed the right person, in the right place, at the right time. Thank you, Father, for placing Lyndy right where she is meant to be.”

Randy and Lyndy  took a trip to Wisconsin for their 10-year anniversary. — *Randy and Lyndy took a trip to Wisconsin for their 10-year anniversary.*

The post goes on to add comments the facility has received about their administrator from family members. They describe Lyndy as “a great leader, doing a great job” and more. “I think about my residents 24/7,” Lyndy said. “When I am not in my building, they are always on my mind.”

Upon graduation from Texarkana College’s LVN program, Lyndy went to work at Wadley Regional Medical Center on the medical surgery floor. She ended up working in many areas of the hospital, including Cardiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pre-Operation and Recovery, and more. She then transitioned into school nursing, where she spent six years working for Fouke and Genoa Middle and High Schools. Her first job after school nursing was for Integrity Home Health of Arkansas where she fell in love once again—this time with home health and hospice care.

“My passion led me to work with Heritage Home Health and Hospice as a field nurse for home health, then I became a community liaison for the last three years,” she said. “During my work at Heritage, I learned what the heart of home health and hospice truly looked like. I spent a lot of time marketing and nursing in all the assisted living/memory cares in Texarkana and began learning how they work and run. This experience led me right where God wants me to be at this season in my life/career.”

Lyndy leads a team of skilled professionals at Magnolia at The Oaks that not only provides care to residents, but also plans entertainment and stimulating activities for them to participate in. This not only makes the residents happier but gives comfort to their families as well.

“Our residents are my number one priority,” Lyndy said. “I strive to take care and love each and every one of them as if they were my own parent/grandparent. This is my true heart and passion.” The love Lyndy has for her residents is clear. She is making a daily difference in many lives in her position as administrator of this facility.

At home, Lyndy is busy raising kids and being a devoted wife. This April, she and her husband, Randy, will celebrate 12 years of marriage. Together they have four children: Lauryn Bivens, 21; Abigayle House, 18; Isaac Wheat, 10; and Isabella Wheat, 8.

“I accept calls from staff and families at any time of the day or night,” Lyndy said. “They all have my cell number and know I will answer any time. I am so grateful for my precious family and the fact that they know my heart and how much I love people. I know it is frustrating for my kids and husband because there are days where I go to work at 6 a.m., work the floor all day long, and get home after 6 p.m. Praise God for their patience with me and grace. I am so thankful for my husband. He knows me and my heart and loves me even when I have nothing left at the end of a day.”

Feature Stories

The Right Person, In the Right Place, At the Right Time