WOODVILLE — On Dec. 11 Warden Jacquelyn Banks announced the Employee of the Year 2007, Chaplain Willie Jones.

Jones has been with WCCF for nearly five years. He began his career in corrections as a counselor and three years later was promoted to chaplain.

A proud father of six children and a devoted husband for 12 years to wife Shelia is Jones’s most cherished accomplishments. Through the years he has managed to lead a full and successful career in the public school system of both Amite and Wilkinson County.

For 13 years, he was the alternative coordinator of a program designed to reach youth and redirect them in a more healthy and productive direction.

Another one of Jones’ many gifts is his perceptiveness and humility which allows him to visualize the mission of such programs and how it impacts the community.

Currently in his 18th year as pastor of both Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal and Winans Chapel Church in Centreville, Jones ministers the Word of God every Sunday.

With two sanctuaries, a mass of members, the faith based program which includes an undisclosed number of offenders, he still supports staff members and offenders when needed in his daily job duties.

He also oversees the volunteer program which includes pastors, publishers, organizations, community leaders and county citizens, sponsored programs, and his loving family, whom are always supportive. Jones is definitely the “Man of the Year.”

A well accomplished, humble man of God, filled with compassion and equipped with a heart of gold, Jones “never” says no to anyone or any task.

He always has more to give and he always knows just what to say. Jones said in leadership class earlier this year that he would like to improve his mentoring and coaching skills.

The facilitators found it odd that someone with a record such as his or a person, who has such a positive affect on staff, would critique himself in an area that he has already mastered.

Jones resides in Centreville with his family.