Woodbury Church Member Named Local Hero for Compassionate Care
Mandy Hagar-Diaz, a registered nurse and member of the Woodbury Church, Tenn., was recognized as a “Local Hero” during the annual Field of Flags ceremony in Woodbury. The Cannon County Vietnam Veterans Association honored Hagar-Diaz for her years of compassionate hospice care, naming her one of five recipients of the 2025 award.
The event, which honors community service and sacrifice, was attended by state Sen. Shane Reeves and Rep. Michael Hale. Other honorees included local fire, police, and military service members.
Hagar-Diaz earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing summa cum laude from Middle Tennessee State University in 2007 and has worked as a registered nurse for 18 years. Nearly six of those were spent in hospice care, where she provided end-of-life support to patients and families.
“You’re serving people at their most vulnerable time,” Hagar-Diaz said. “You walk into a room filled with fear and grief, and somehow God gives you the strength to bring peace and comfort… you’re caring for bodies, but you’re also tending to souls.”
Now transitioning to wound care nursing for a more balanced schedule, Hagar-Diaz said the award served as a touching tribute to her years in hospice care.
“Usually that phrase ‘Thank you for your service’ is connected to the military,” she said. “But in nursing, you’re also giving of yourself and your time. To have people say thank you publicly was humbling and encouraging. It felt like God’s way of closing that chapter for me.”
Outside of work, Hagar-Diaz serves as Pathfinder Director and Music Leader at the Woodbury Church. She is active in the church’s community emergency response team and recently joined the Cannon County Rescue Squad.
Hagar-Diaz encourages others to use everyday moments as opportunities to share their faith.
“Your job is not just something to bring income,” she said. “It is time God has given you to serve His people. Our whole mission on this earth is to be a light so people can see Jesus in you.”
