Four family members continue legacy of care, service at St. Jude

Neely James, RN, senior project manager in Information Services, did not plan to pursue a career in health care. Two prior generations of nurses in her family showed her the challenges that may accompany such a path. However, caring for others is a deeply held value in her family. Eventually, the call to serve others outweighed her anxieties.

“So many things lined up and pushed me into it,” Neely said. “It was just the way it was supposed to be — taking care of people.”

That innate desire to help people manifested in her children, as well — Lauren McMurry, RN, Command Center Operations manager, and Jessica Read, Nursing Administration. Like her mother, Lauren pursued nursing, becoming the fourth generation in their family to do so. Jessica supports the nursing staff at St. Jude as a program specialist. Jessica’s husband, Matthew Read, ensures seamless communication at hospital events as a collaboration technology technician in Information Services. 

Supporting each other’s journeys

It takes a lot of focus and stamina to juggle parental duties, work, school and everything else. The support of loved ones can make a huge difference. When Neely decided to attend nursing school, her daughters became integral to that support network.

“We helped her study,” Jessica and Lauren explained with a laugh.

Once Neely became a St. Jude employee in 2012, she was able to support her daughters and their growing families in their pursuit of higher education.

Lauren had admired her family’s nursing roots and knew she wanted to follow in their footsteps. Upon her graduation in 2014, she joined her mother at St. Jude as a nurse in the Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. She has since earned her doctorate in nursing.

“I knew that St. Jude would be the place that would let me practice nursing the way it should be practiced,” Lauren said. “Being part of the innovation, helping define what nursing looks like — you’re building for the future.”

It was a future she and Neely strongly believed that Matthew and Jessica should be a part of as well.

“I met Jessica when I was working as an AV Integrator for a local business,” Matthew said. “Neely identified a need here at the hospital that she believed I could fill. It’s given me a sense of purpose: I help improve the ways that our researchers and staff collaborate and share information.”

“I had been wanting to work at St. Jude since school,” Jessica said. “I wanted to get a foot in the door. I love working here. I get to support the nurses and help them — my favorite part is helping the new nurses.”

Memphians at heart

Part of what drew the family to work at St. Jude was its strong Memphis roots. For five generations, the family has called Memphis home. They love their city and especially its people.

One of Jessica’s favorite things about her work is helping new nurses acclimate to the hospital and the city. She readily highlights what makes the city shine. “A lot of our nurse residents relocate to Memphis,” Jessica said. “It’s neat to share the positives with them: We have two award-winning children’s hospitals, the music scene is incredible, and you can always find someone willing to help.”

“There’s something about Memphis that has a soul about it,” Neely added.

“There’s a real hunger in Memphis to amplify good news,” Matthew said. “When good things happen, the city rallies behind it. That sounds a whole lot like hope.”

The family felt that celebratory spirit earlier this year when Jessica and Matthew’s son’s high school jazz band competed in Essentially Ellington, an international jazz band competition hosted in New York City, and took first place. The accomplishment was a point of pride for the community, with its deep musical roots; it was even more special to the family to see the next generation flourish in their beloved city.