Todd Clippard is new chairman of the board for Hospice of Northwest Alabama

HAMILTON — Todd Clippard was recently elected as chairman of the board for Hospice of Northwest Alabama. He began serving as a board member in 2017.
Clippard replaced former chairman Judge Ed Gosa, who served in the role for approximately 20 years.
Clippard said he was encouraged by board member Lisa Murphy to fill the vacancy.
“At first, I deferred to anyone else who wanted to serve, because I’m the newest member of the board--even at eight years,” he said. “But then I said, ‘If you think I’m fit, then I’ll do it.’”
Hospice of Northwest Alabama was the first hospice in the area, and is the only non-profit hospice serving the area. From its location in Winfield, the organization serves those in need of hospice in Marion, Lamar, Pickens, Walker and Fayette counties.
Murphy, a former Marion County Extension Agent, also provided some of the history behind Hospice of Northwest Alabama.

She explained Linda Sewell, who recently passed away, helped to get the organization started in 1992.
“We had a health council that was organized through the Extension Service, and members of the health council saw a need for hospice care,” Murphy said. “Hospice was not profitable at that time, but there was a need.”
She said different speakers would come and speak to the health council, with one individual from UAB talking about health care and rural health outreach grants.
“There was a federal grant available, and this lady from UAB planted the seed of where we might be able to obtain funding to start Hospice of Northwest Alabama,” she said.
Because of the grant guidelines, Murphy said they had to create an association of different health agencies, including local hospitals and health departments. They also had to create a board, among laying other groundwork for the grant.

Tasked with finding new board members, new location Clippard said his first task as chairman was to find new board members, as several have recently retired. He explained information about two new board members and other hospice staff will be released shortly after the board’s June meeting.
 As chairman, his primary duties are conducting the meetings and assisting director Dianna Cantrell, when needed. He noted the board meets four times a year.
He’s already shown himself to be instrumental as a board member, and among other duties, found the property and negotiated the sale for the hospice’s new office location in Winfield at 1788 U.S. Highway 43, which opened in November 2024.