Bay St. Louis Native Ricky Keeton Assists with Baptisms at Wilkinson County Prison

#MTCChangesLives

Chaplain Roscoe Barnes III, left, baptizes Albert Thomas, with assistance from Ricky Keeton, who works with the chaplain’s department.

WOODVILLE, Miss. – Ricky Keeton Jr., a Bay St. Louis native, recently helped with the baptism of more than 30 men at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF). Keeton is the son of the late Ricky Keeton Sr. of Bay St. Louis.

“I was honored that Chaplain [Roscoe] Barnes chose me to be part of his team,” said Keeton. “I felt such joy for these men and their decision to dedicate their lives to Christ.”

Chaplain Roscoe Barnes III said the baptism is an event the men will always remember. “It is a very important milestone in their lives,” he said. “I couldn’t have done this without my team, and Keeton’s contributions to this service have been invaluable.”

Keeton works as a sally-port orderly in the prison. He helps with the chaplain’s department when he is not working his regular job. He served as a chaplain’s assistant for two years in another prison.

Keeton said he became a Christian four years ago and it was the best decision he ever made. His goals are to earn his G.E.D. and take up another trade. When asked what he planned to do when he is released, he said, “I would love to buy a truck and travel the country spreading the gospel of Christ.”

WCCF is managed by Management & Training Corporation (MTC) of Utah.

 

Sgt. William “Rambo” Bonds Honored as Employee of the Month

Recognition given by Wilkinson Prison

#MTCChangesLives

C.E.R.T. Sgt. William "Rambo" Bonds

WOODVILLE, Miss. – Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) recently honored a member of its Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT).

C.E.R.T. Sgt. William V. “Rambo” Bonds was named Employee of the Month for March for his exemplary work in maintaining control and a peaceful environment among the prison population.

“Sgt. Bonds is an exceptional employee with a great work ethic,” said Warden Scott Middlebrooks. “We’re really proud of the work he’s doing with C.E.R.T. He is a vital member of the team.”

Bonds said, “I’m really, really honored. It’s the first time ever that I received a commendation from a company I worked for. I can’t say enough about how grateful I am. It means a lot to me and my team. It’s really great and I’m humbled by it.”

Captain Phil Taylor, Bonds’ supervisor, said, “This recognition couldn’t have been awarded to a better man at a better time. Sgt. Bonds has been a major factor in the success of our daily operations. His military experience has prepared him for this job.”

As a member of the C.E.R.T. team, Bonds is in his element, Taylor said.

Born and raised in Natchez, Bonds is a resident of Franklin County. He graduated from Amite County High School in 1999. Bonds said he was in the eighth grade when his classmates began calling him Rambo.

Bonds served as a member of the Army National Guard. He did tours in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Bonds said his wife, Cheryl, was elated to hear about his recognition. “Baby, that’s great,” she said. “You really earned it. It’s awesome. I’m so proud of you.”

Bonds and Cheryl have two children: Michela and Layden.

WCCF, which houses more than 900 male offenders, is managed by Management & Training Corporation or MTC of Utah.

 

Wilkinson County Correctional Facility is Featured in National Magazine

Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) participants in the Witness the Fitness Walking Club display a copy of Corrections Today magazine (January/February 2021 issue). Each of them is mentioned in the article, "Witness the Fitness Walking Club: How the staff of a Mississippi prison fights stress and stays fit in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic." The article, which was written by Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., appears on pages 28-32. From left are Branton Lewis, Sherry Rowe, Clarissa Sanders-Credit, and Frances Griffin.

To view the article, please visit: 

https://www.academia.edu/44761570/Witness_the_Fitness_Walking_Club_How_the_staff_of_a_Mississippi_prison_fights_stress_and_stays_fit_in_the_face_of_the_COVID_19_pandemic

Dwyane Anthony is New Co-Chaplain at Wilkinson Prison

He pastors King Emanuel Baptist Church in Woodville

 

Chaplain Dwyane Anthony

WOODVILLE, Miss. – Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) recently made an addition to its chaplain’s department. The Rev. Dwyane Anthony, a Woodville native and pastor of King Emanuel Baptist Church, is the new co-chaplain at the Woodville facility.

“Anthony has been an exemplary employee,” said Programs Director Tracey Arbuthnot. “He is a good leader and I’m sure he will be a great blessing to us in this role. We’re all excited about his new position as co-chaplain.”

Anthony is a retiree of Louisiana State Prison (Angola), where he was employed as a corrections captain. In his new position, he will work with WCCF’s current chaplain, Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, and the contract chaplain, Felton Quiett, who serves as the Imam for the Muslim offenders.

Barnes said Anthony has a lot to offer and he looks forward to working with him.

“Given Anthony’s background as a pastor for the past eighteen years, and his familiarity of the prison system, I feel that his ministry will make a tremendous impact on the lives of the men here and our chaplain’s department as a whole,” Barnes noted.

Anthony, who was first hired as an academic instructor for WCCF, quickly climbed the ladder due to his prior experience in corrections, according to Barnes. Anthony assisted with security and became a training manager, where he supervised the training of new officers.

According to Warden Scott Middlebrooks, Anthony is an ordained minister “who is excited to pursue work in his calling.” The warden said he is eager to work with him in his new capacity. “I’m confident he will do an excellent job in providing for the spiritual and religious needs of our facility,” he said.

Anthony is a 1982 graduate of Wilkinson County High School and a 1987 graduate of Alcorn State University (ASU), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Technical Education and Electronics.

When asked about his newest position as chaplain, Anthony said he was happy about the new opportunities that lay ahead.

“Out of all my years in corrections, this is the position I was destined to be in,” he said. “In the past, I had been more focused on security and neglected my true calling, which is ministering God’s word to the offenders.”

Anthony and his wife, Katrina, have been married for 31 years. They are the proud parents of one son, Dwyane Jr., and the grandparents of Peyton Dwyane Anthony.

WCCF houses more than 900 male offenders. It is managed by Management & Training Corporation or MTC of Utah.

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#PrivatePrisons #Corrections #MTCChangesLives

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ROSCOE BARNES III, Ph.D., is a writer, chaplain, historian, and former newspaper reporter. He is the author of more than a dozen books and Gospel tracts. For more information about his work and history, see his Personal Profile here or visit his website: http://www.roscoebarnes.net. Connect with him on Twitter (@roscoebarnes3) or by email: roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com.