A Legacy of Care: Highland Community Hospital Marks 20 Years with Forrest Health
A new chapter in healthcare began for Picayune, Pearl River County, and the surrounding area on May 1, 2006, when Forrest Health purchased Crosby Memorial Hospital and renamed it Highland Community Hospital. Today, 20 years later, that purchase stands as more than a change in ownership or a new name. It represents a continued investment in local care, a commitment to community health, and a vision that helped shape the modern hospital Highland is today.
As Highland Community Hospital (HCH) celebrates, this anniversary offers an opportunity not only to look back on the milestones that brought the hospital to this point, but also to recognize its rich history – one that is rooted in generations of community support, local leadership, and a shared belief that the people of Picayune and the surrounding area deserve quality healthcare close to home.
“For 20 years, Highland Community Hospital has played a vital role in our commitment to bring high-quality, compassionate care closer to home for the people of Pearl River County,” said Jeff Cook, Forrest Health president/CEO. “What began in 2006 as Forrest Health’s commitment to preserve local healthcare has grown into a lasting investment in this community’s health, well-being, and future.”
The Crosby Era
When Crosby Memorial Hospital opened in the mid-1950s, it became a vital part of life in Picayune. For decades, it served as the community’s hospital, providing care close to home for generations of families.
For many area residents, Crosby Memorial Hospital was more than a healthcare facility. It was where they were born, where loved ones recovered, where employees built careers, and where families turned when in need.
Like many community hospitals, Crosby faced significant challenges through the years. By the 1990s, financial concerns raised serious questions about its future.
In addition to financial hardships, the 65,000 square-foot facility itself faced major structural and design deficiencies, which even if renovated would still have left it antiquated and obsolete. Serious roof and exterior wall damage suffered during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 didn’t help. Nurses often complained of leaking ceilings.
Those years highlighted how important a stable, long-term healthcare partner would be for Pearl River County. The community needed more than a name on a building. It needed a sound vision for local healthcare and the resources to carry that vision forward.
2006: A New Chapter
That turning point came on May 1, 2006, when Forrest Health purchased Crosby Memorial Hospital and renamed it Highland Community Hospital.
The acquisition changed the healthcare landscape in South Mississippi and signaled a major commitment to Picayune and Pearl River County. Forrest Health did not simply step in to maintain existing services. Leaders saw an opportunity to build on the hospital’s legacy while investing in expanded care, modern facilities, and long-term growth for the region.
At the time of the purchase, hospital leaders unveiled plans for a significant investment in the growing area, including the construction of a new hospital. It was a bold commitment and one that would eventually transform the way healthcare was delivered to all age groups in the community through improved preventive and diagnostic services.
For Highland, becoming part of Forrest Health meant joining a larger system with a wealth of services while keeping its identity as a community hospital. It also meant local patients could continue receiving accessible, top-quality healthcare close to home, backed by the strength and support of a regional health system committed to quality, safety, and access. Forrest Health’s investment would also provide a boost to economic development in the area, helping keep healthcare dollars at home.
“When Highland became part of Forrest Health, it created a sense of stability and opportunity that had been missing,” said HCH Administrator James “Jimbo” Turnage. “It ensured that this community would continue to have access to reliable, high-quality care, while also opening the door for growth and long-term investment.”
From Vision to Reality
The years following the 2006 acquisition were marked by planning, partnership, and visible progress.
By 2010, that vision moved from concept to construction. On Dec. 8, 2010, representatives from Forrest Health, Highland Community Hospital, and leaders from Forrest and Pearl River counties gathered with the contractor for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospital.
The new facility was planned for Highland Commons, a development consisting of approximately 300 acres, with 20 acres donated for the hospital by local developer Carle Cooper of Picayune. The hospital would be located on a 31-acre parcel off Highway 11, and convenient to both Highway 43 and Interstate 59, providing easier access for patients. From the beginning, hospital leaders emphasized the need for community input as well as collaboration among administration, medical staff, hospital employees, and the construction team.
The project also reflected Forrest Health’s willingness to invest in the future of care in the region. Reports at the time noted a multimillion-dollar commitment to the area, and by October 2010, a $70 million bond issue had been approved by the Forrest County Board of Supervisors to support the new Highland hospital and related projects already underway. At that time, the estimated cost of the new nearly 200 thousand square-foot hospital itself was approximately $50 million. Upon completion, that number had increased to $55 million.
In addition to the hospital, two new physician office buildings were part of the site construction.
Hospital leaders described Highland as a response to what the community had said it wanted – a modern, state-of-the-art healthcare facility with the capacity to better meet local needs. Plans called for expanded emergency services, more room for obstetrical care, surgery, and other procedures, additional diagnostic and X-ray technology, and significant growth in outpatient services. Phase I would include 60 inpatient beds, with infrastructure in place for future expansion of up to 120 beds, if needed.
It was a major undertaking, but for many in Picayune, it represented something simple and profound – confidence and stability in the future of their local healthcare.
“The opening of the new hospital in 2012 was a transformative moment for healthcare in this area,” said Turnage. “It allowed us to expand services, improve the patient experience, and create an environment that truly supports both patients and their families.”
2012: A New Home for Care
Future met reality in July 2012 when Highland Community Hospital moved from the former Crosby site on Goodyear Boulevard to its new home off U.S. Highway 11.
The move marked the end of a 60-year era and the beginning of another.
The new hospital opened as a 60-bed facility designed around both patient care and family experience. Patient rooms were larger with space intended to encourage families to remain involved in care. Each room included a family zone with seating and accommodations for overnight stays, which reflected a more patient- and family-centered approach to healing.
The facility also offered a more modern layout, designed to improve wayfinding and create a more welcoming experience for patients and visitors. With expanded and enhanced services, and room for future growth, Highland was positioned to serve Picayune and Pearl River County for years to come.
For employees, the building represented more than a physical upgrade. It reflected years of anticipation and the beginning of a new work environment built for the future. For patients and families, it meant receiving care in a modern facility designed with comfort, quality, and efficiency in mind.
Serving Today’s Community
Today, Highland Community Hospital stands as both a local hospital and part of the broader Forrest Health system – a combination that allows it to remain rooted in community and care, while benefiting from the strength of a trusted regional healthcare organization.
Its record during the past 20 years is one of continuity and growth. The name changed. The building changed. The location changed. But the central commitment remained the same – caring for the people of Picayune, Pearl River County, and the surrounding area.
That is what makes this anniversary significant. It is not only a celebration of a 2006 acquisition or a 2012 opening. It is a recognition of the healthcare workers, leaders, patients, families, and community members who have carried this hospital forward across generations.
The hospital’s history includes those who helped build Crosby Memorial Hospital in the 1950s, those who worked to sustain it through changing times, those who helped bring Highland into the Forrest Health family, and those who continue today to provide care in its halls.
“There’s a real sense of pride in caring for this community,” said Amy Alfonso, Highland’s director of Nursing. “You see familiar faces, you build relationships over time, and you know the work you’re doing truly matters. That’s what makes Highland special.”
Honoring the Past, Building the Future
Even after Highland moved to its new facility, the old Goodyear Boulevard site was a source of pride and remained deeply meaningful to the community.
In 2013, the former hospital property was acquired by the City of Picayune and demolished to make way for a new public space. In 2017, that vision came to life as Crosby Commons, a park and gathering place that was built on the grounds where generations once came for care. The transformation gave the five-acre site new purpose while preserving its connection to the past. Bricks from the old hospital were incorporated into the park’s entrance columns, creating a reminder of the care that was once rendered on that site, and the memories it still held for many.
That full-circle moment feels especially fitting as Highland Community Hospital marks 20 years with Forrest Health. The hospital’s history is one of change, but also of continuity and of honoring what came before while building what comes next.
The hospital’s employees continue to support and participate in community events held at the Crosby Commons space as a way to give back, remember, and honor its legacy.
From its roots in early community healthcare, to the construction of Crosby Memorial Hospital, to its transition into Highland Community Hospital, and the opening of a new modern facility, this is truly about a community that has always believed in taking care of its own.
Twenty years after joining Forrest Health, Highland Community Hospital remains an important part of that history and an important part of the future of healthcare in Pearl River County.
SIDEBAR
Healthcare in Picayune
Early 1920s
Martin Sanatorium opens on West Canal Street, serving as an early healthcare facility for Picayune.
1949
The City of Picayune begins exploring options for establishing a community hospital.
1951–1954
Construction of Lucius Olen Crosby Memorial Hospital takes place on Goodyear Boulevard.
Mid-1950s
Crosby Memorial Hospital begins serving Picayune and surrounding communities.
1997
New American takes ownership of hospital operations after a bidding process.
1998
Local physicians purchase the certificate of need after New American’s bankruptcy.
2006
On May 1, Forrest Health purchases Crosby Memorial Hospital and renames it Highland Community Hospital.
2010
On Dec. 8, a groundbreaking ceremony is held at Highland Commons for the new 60-bed Highland Community Hospital facility.
2012
Highland Community Hospital moves into its new facility off U.S. Highway 11 on July 27.
2013
The former Crosby Hospital property is demolished after being acquired by the City of Picayune.
2017
Crosby Commons opens on the former hospital site.
2026
Highland Community Hospital celebrates 20 years as part of Forrest Health.
