Oxford attorney to be honored in 23rd Memory and Honor Tree

For the 23rd year, the Auxiliary of McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital is celebrating an Oxford resident with an honor tree ceremony.

The hospital displays a tree with lights in its lobby, and each light on the tree represents an honored individual, with a listing of all the names displayed next to the tree.

This year’s ceremony will take place on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. at the Knolls of Oxford Clubhouse, and will celebrate Jim Robinson, a long-time Oxford attorney and founding president of the Oxford Community Foundation. 

Robinson has served Oxford and its residents for over 50 years as an estate and business attorney. 

Robinson’s history of investing in the Oxford community, especially in education and health initiatives, contributed to his nomination as an honoree, according to the press release.   

Additionally, Robinson served on the McCullough-Hyde Hospital Board for a decade.

Beth Beaton, co-chair of the 2025 event, believes that this event is essential to bring awareness to community members who have left a mark on their town.  

“As we get down the road of our lives, it’s really nice to have somebody come out and say ‘thank you for all you’ve done,’” she said. “It’s a good way of doing a thank you to a person who has given so much, not only to the hospital, but to the community.”

Since its start in 2003, this tradition has aimed to honor loved ones while raising money for the Clinical Health Professions Scholarship. Each year, the auxiliary awards three of these scholarships, each for $1,500, to students working toward a degree in the health field who have the intention of serving the Oxford community.