Rev. H.C. Couch exemplifies the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” – not only as a pastor dedicated to his own flock he shepherds at Mountain Grove Baptist Church in Pickens, South Carolina, but also in ministering to shut-ins, hospital patients, and residents of local nursing homes, including Laurel Hill Living Center and Rosemond Nursing Center in Pickens, Harvey’s Love and Care in Six Mile, and several others in Easley and in Greenville.
        Rev. Couch began visiting Laurel Hill in 1991, when he returned to his home state of South Carolina to pastor Antioch Baptist Church in Pickens. (He had begun in the ministry in September, 1965 as Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Pickens, then as Pastor of Holly Springs Baptist Church in Pickens, before moving to Crossville, Tennessee to pastor for 13 years.) He retired for three and a half years to care for his mother as well as for his wife’s parents. Then, he was called to pastor Mountain Grove Baptist Church in Pickens, where he serves today. 
        In 1991, Rev. Couch began services at Laurel Hill and also began daily visiting the residents. While he was retired, he and his wife, Shelba, ministered to the residents with services each Sunday morning. They still have services there every other Wednesday.
        In 2007 and 2008, Rev. Couch made more than 17,000 contacts in rest homes and hospitals and in visiting shut-ins in their homes. In 2009, he made 16,250 contacts.
        “He not only visits Laurel Hill and the 80 residents we have here, but several other local facilities, which have as many residents as we have,” said Todd Griggs, Administrator at Laurel Hill Living Center in Pickens. “And it’s daily,” he added. “He comes every day. With him being a pastor, it’s certainly God’s calling, but he’s everybody’s family. It doesn’t matter who it is. It doesn’t matter what religion they are. If they are in need, he’s going to go and speak with them. And he visits not just one or two. He visits them all, on a daily basis, and not just the residents, but the staff, as well. He is a family member to this facility.”
        “I have been at Laurel Hill for five years, and I’ve known Preacher Couch since I’ve been here,” said Kirby Cheeks, Director of Recreational Services at Laurel Hill Living Center. “He’s very dependable, very reliable. He is our chaplain for Laurel Hill, as well. Every time a resident goes to the hospital, he goes first. He’s part of Laurel Hill.”
        “He is awesome,” said Peggy Riley, who works at Laurel Hill Living Center. “He comes here every single day. He makes us hot dogs. He makes us pound cakes. He visits with all of the residents. Everybody knows him by name, and we love him. I don’t know what we would do without him. He’s always happy, always in a good mood. He makes our day.”
        “He’s a wonderful person,” said Margaret Palmer, a resident of Laurel Hill Living Center. “He brings us pound cakes. He’s here every day. We love him.”
        “He’s a great guy,” said Ocie Wamsley, a resident of Laurel Hill and President of the Resident Council. “He comes every day. He bakes his own cakes and brings them and gives them to us. They’re really good.”
        “He makes the best peach pies in the world,” added Cathy Mitchell, hair stylist for Laurel Hill Living Center. 
        The nursing home’s maintenance supervisor, Richard Bryan, who has known Rev. Couch for several years, has prayed with him during difficult times in his life, including when he was deployed in 2006. “We’ve done some talking about the dear Lord,” he said.
        “I’ve known him for a long time,” said Joyce Hendricks, receptionist for Laurel Hill. “He’s very dedicated to all of these people. We think a lot of him.”
        “He visits these people every day,” said Betty Stephens, who each day visits her mother, Alma Morgan, a resident of Laurel Hill. “He’s one of a kind,” she said.
        “He’s all right, in my book,” added her father, Charles Morgan.
        “He’s wonderful,” said Shannon Galloway, physical therapist assistant. “He comes any time,” she said. “You can call him about anybody at any time, even family members of residents. He will come to talk with them, to try to help them through their time of need. The residents really enjoy seeing him. He comes all of the time. That’s what’s so wonderful. He’s very consistent. The residents know that he’s going to be here. They look forward to him coming. He comes and visits a lot of people whom their pastors don’t come and visit. We’ve had several people who don’t go to church any longer. The doctor comes in and says they’re going to permanently be in a facility. We can call Preacher Couch, and he’ll come to comfort them, even if he doesn’t even know the person. And it’s not just this facility. He goes everywhere, and he’s doing it for his own church, as well.''
        “And if any of the workers are having surgery, he’ll show up and check on you and pray with you,” added Dawn Banks, physical therapist assistant.
        “He’s a wonderful man,” said Karey Kelley, who now works at Laurel Hill but who was only about seven years old in 1991 when Rev. Couch began visiting the nursing facility. Her mother worked there at that time. “He’s been coming here for a long time,” she said. “Every day, faithfully.”
        Rosemond Living Center, also in Pickens, is another facility that Rev. Couch visits faithfully. Zac Wood, Executive Director of Rosemond Living Center, received his administrator training at Laurel Hill beginning in 2008, at which time he first met Rev. Couch. “I remember seeing a man walk in the front door with his black leather jacket and red shirt on,” said Wood. “I remember him introducing himself to me, and I remember him going down the hallway and saying hello to each and every resident, especially members of his congregation. “I thought, he’s a pastor, and that’s good that he’s doing that. The next day, I saw the same man come in and do the exact same thing. I thought, he’s back; there must be someone who really needs him. On the third day, the same man came in, and did the exact same thing. And then every day that I was at Laurel Hill Living Center, Preacher Couch came in and tended to his congregation, tended to the sick and needy, tended to the ones who were passing. He did that on a consistent basis. 
        “That’s what I think is amazing, because other pastors came in once a month or once every two to three weeks. Preacher Couch was there every day. And he made special time to visit with the people who had Alzheimer’s who were members of his congregation and people he had never met before, too. I thought, what a true child of God, to do something like that. It’s very important, and you don’t see that a lot anymore. That goes back to a Bible verse we talked about two Sundays ago at church, that you shall know my children by their fruits. Preacher Couch has definitely exhibited that. I think Preacher Couch is an amazing man. He’s a good person.
        “I see every day how he interacts with our residents and how he makes special time if I have a question about my faith. He always has time for people, and I think that’s what a true child of God should always have, is time, and humility, to listen and to help. And he’s never been too pushy with me. He’s always been there, ‘right on the money’ with me. He’s always told me the truth, and I appreciate that. He has been a great example for me to follow.
        “I heard him preach a funeral for one of my residents seven months ago. Usually, at a funeral, you hear more about how this individual was saved and now they’re living with Jesus Christ. That’s great, and we need to hear that, but, at the same time, I think so many people actually fail to remember the person. And I sometimes feel that people don’t remember or don’t have the words to say about someone who passes away. But Preacher Couch definitely knows everyone in his congregation. He told stories that were so life-like and so real when our resident passed away, and it made you remember the good times this lady had, and it showed what kind of lady she was.
        “If anyone should have this nomination, it should be Preacher Couch. I appreciate him and thank him for his sincerity and everything he has taught me over the past two years. He truly is an inspiration and a testimony to me.” 
        Rev. Couch and his wife, Shelba, have three children: Cleve Couch, Christie Couch, and Crystal Pitrois. They have five grandsons: Zachary, Ethan, and Christian Couch and Marc and Julien Pitrois.