Resident of Wilkinson Prison Presents Academic Paper on Anne Moody

Glen Conley II realizes dream of becoming a scholar

#MTCChangesLives

 

Glen Conley II prepares to present paper on Anne Moody

WOODVILLE, Miss. -- Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) recently made history when one of its residents presented an academic paper from the facility using the Nooks platform.

Offender Glen Conley II presented a paper on Anne Moody at the 53rd annual conference held by the Western Association of Women Historians (WAWH) on Friday, April 23. The event took place as a virtual meeting because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a laptop under the guidance of WCCF staff, Conley shared his research with scholars from several universities.

“This was a proud moment for all of us,” said Warden Scott Middlebrooks. “Conley is passionate about his research on Anne Moody and his passion came through during his presentation. This is an important milestone for WCCF and for the state of Mississippi.”
 
Conley’s paper was titled, “Coming of Age to See Things Differently: How Whites Influenced Anne Moody’s Decision to Fight Social Injustice.”

Conley, who hails from Hammond, LA., has been a resident at WCCF since 2016. He is an administrative orderly and Inmate Religious Assistant (IRA), who has completed the seminary program at Parchman. He earned a bachelor’s degree and an associate’s degree through the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Conley is currently pursuing a master’s degree in theological studies through NationsUniversity.

Staff members who attended the virtual event said Conley did a great job. “His presentation drew me in and held my attention,” said Investigator Lieutenant Michelle Higginbotham. “He is a great speaker and clearly an expert on Anne Moody.”

Security Threat Group (STG) Investigator Rachel Hickombottom said Conley was descriptive and persuasive in his presentation. “He did an excellent job, especially when he described who influenced [Moody],” she said. “She chose the direction that she did because of the things she saw around her. She wanted to mimic the people that she saw who were doing well. She didn’t want to stay in poverty – she wanted to rise and do better.”

Leigh Ann Wheeler, a professor of history at Binghamton University, was instrumental in arranging for Conley to speak at the conference. She described his contribution as an “historic treat for attendees.”

“Conley surprised many by arguing that various white people in Moody's life were the main inspiration behind her academic success and decision to fight against social injustice,” Wheeler said. “When challenged by the chair—the pioneering women's historian, Professor Sara Evans—for possibly giving southern whites too much credit, Conley related his research on Moody to today's racial problems, insisting that one way out of those problems is to focus on the good in people of all races and to resist rather than encourage race-based hatred.”

Wheeler is writing Moody’s biography. She was one of several scholars who also presented a paper on Moody at the WAWH conference.
 
Moody was a civil-rights pioneer who wrote the classic, Coming of Age in Mississippi. She grew up in Centreville. Moody died in 2015 at her home in Gloster. She was 74.

WCCF, which houses over 900 men, is managed by Management & Training Corporation (MTC) of Utah. The facility is the birthplace of the Anne Moody History Project, a community service endeavor in public history for Wilkinson and Amite Counties. Its aim is to honor Moody by promoting and helping to preserve her legacy as a noted author, civil rights pioneer, and historical figure in Mississippi. 

 #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.

Liberty’s Aaron Griffin Named ‘Employee of the Month for April’

Recognition given at Wilkinson Prison

Aaron Griffin

WOODVILLE, Miss. – Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) recently honored Liberty resident Aaron Griffin as Employee of the Month for April 2021.

 
“Aaron has done a great job keeping everyone’s time, attendance, and pay straight and in accordance to policy,” said Warden Scott Middlebrooks. “We appreciate him and we are grateful to him for all of his hard work.”
 
Griffin, who works as the accounting clerk for WCCF, has been employed by the company for more than two years. He is a 2010 graduate of Amite County High School. Griffin is also a 2016 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Resources. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
 
The young professional said he welcomed the news about his work. “I feel truly honored and appreciated,” he said.
 
Finance Manager Gregory Smith, Griffin’s supervisor, said he was pleased with the recognition given to Griffin.
 
“Mr. Griffin’s knowledge, reliability, and work ethic make him an integral part of the finance department and the facility as a whole,” he said. “This recognition is earned and well-deserved.”
 
Griffin plans to continue working hard while pursuing more education. “I am currently seeking both a program and university to pursue a Master’s degree,” he said.
 
WCCF, which houses over 900 men, is managed by Management & Training Corporation (MTC) of Utah.
 

Wilkinson Prison is Featured in American Jails Magazine

#MTCChangesLives

WOODVILLE, Miss. -- Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) is featured in two articles in the May/June 2021 issue of American Jails magazine. The national publication is the official organ of the American Jail Association (AJA).

The main article about WCCF highlights a new training program at the Woodville facility. It is titled, “How an Inmate-Led Class Is Helping Staff Learn Spanish” (pages 28-32). The second article appears in the “Notes from the Field” section. It is titled, “Wilkinson Facility Turns Pallets into Bookcases” (pages 61-63). Both articles include photos of WCCF staff and residents.

Earlier this year, WCCF appeared in the January/February 2021 issue of the nationally-published Corrections Today magazine, the official publication of the American Correctional Association (ACA). The article was titled, "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." Read the two AJ articles by following the links below.

“How an Inmate-Led Class Is Helping Staff Learn Spanish” (pages 28-32) Visit: https://www.academia.edu/47761334/How_an_Inmate_Led_Class_Is_Helping_Staff_Learn_Spanish

"Wilkinson Facility Turns Pallets into Bookcases” (pages 61-63) Visit: https://www.academia.edu/47761354/Wilkinson_Facility_Turns_Pallets_into_Bookcases

WCCF News (4/2021): What's Happening at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility

By Roscoe Barnes III, PhD
Chaplain/PIO, Wilkinson County Correctional Facility

#MTCChangesLives

This newsletter will appear in the April 22, 2021 issue of "The Woodville Republican," a weekly newspaper in Woodville, Miss.

 

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WCCF News

 

What's Happening at

 

Wilkinson County Correctional Facility

 

(April 2021)

 

 
 
 Vanessa Turner and Danesha Selvage Promoted
 
Vanessa Renay Turner, who previously worked as a Zone Sergeant, has been promoted to Unit Manager; and Danesha Selvage, who previously served as the Armory Sergeant, has been promoted to Training Lieutenant.
 
Turner is a 1987 graduate of Wilkinson County High School. She began working at WCCF in January 2000. She is the mother of two children, Brittney and Terrence Jr. “In my role as Unit manager, I plan to continue to be a team player, and always be fair, firm and consistent, and keep God first in everything I do,” Turner said.
 
Selvage has been an employee at WCCF for 14 years. According to Warden Scott Middlebrooks, she has “been an integral force” at the facility. “Her calm demeanor and expertise in corrections will be a tremendous asset to our training program,” he said. “I look forward to working with Danesha in her new role.”

WCCF Welcomes Visit by School Officials
 
Officials of Wilkinson County School District visited Wilkinson County Correctional Facility in February. Superintendent Chavis Bradford and Principal Curtis Ross of William Winans Middle School toured the facility’s Education Department, as well as the gym, and the art class. The art class donated a banner by Robert Stepro to the middle school with the words, “Every Life Matters.” Pictured from left are Ross, Stephro, and Latoya McPipe, secretary for the middle school.

Vernon Guy Earns GED
 
Vernon Guy is the most recent student at WCCF to earn his GED. He recently passed all of his required courses and received his diploma. The Alabama native said he felt great about the milestone. “I feel really proud about this achievement, and I hope to go on and expand my education,” he said.
 
13 Men Baptized
 
Chaplain Dwyane Anthony and Chaplain Roscoe Barnes III had the honor of baptizing 13 men in February. All of the men will become part of a discipleship class, where they can learn and grow in their faith as born-again Christians.
 
Kelley Jenkins Named Supervisor of the Quarter
 
Warden Scott Middlebrooks recently recognized Captain Kelley Jenkins as Supervisor of the Quarter. Kelley has done an outstanding job overseeing her shift and is continuously trying to improve our facility operations,” he said. “She leads by example and operates in a firm, fair and consistent manner.” Middlebrooks said he and the staff are grateful to Kelley for all of her hard work.
 
Three-Day Revival Held Before Easter
 
WCCF held a three-day revival from March 30 – April 1. Guest speakers included the Rev. Nelson Fears of Alabama, Rev. Adrian Fairchild of Valley Park, and Rev. Allen Handy of Woodville. A total of 18 men came forward to receive Christ and be baptized.
 
WCCF Names Employees of the Month
 
The facility honored Disciplinary Hearing Officer Shunlekee Pendleton as Employee of the Month for February. C.E.R.T. Sgt. William V. “Rambo” Bonds received the recognition for the month of March. Speaking of Pendleton, Warden Scott Middlebrooks said she has done “an amazing job conducting hearings” and continues to keep up with the work load. Bonds, Middlebrooks noted, “is an exceptional employee with a great work ethic.” Middlebrooks said he is a vital member of the CERT team.
 
Easter Celebrated with Baskets
 
Students in the Education GED class crafted Easter baskets and presented them to the warden and WCCF staff. The colorful creations contained candy and eggs.

  

 #PrivatePrisons #Corrections #MTCChangesLives

 
  ---------------------------------

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.

Former Gulfport Resident Robert Stepro Donates Artwork to Centreville School

#MTCChangesLives

Pictured from left are William Winans Middle School Principal Curtis Ross, Robert Stepro, and Latoya McPipe, secretary for the middle school. 

WOODVILLE, Miss. -- Robert Stepro, a former Gulfport resident, recently donated a piece of his artwork to William Winans Middle School in Centreville. Titled, “Every Life Matters,” the piece is a banner done in paint and marker. He originally created the work for a Martin Luther King Day display at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF).
 
Stepro is a 1982 graduate of Biloxi High School.
 
Principal Curtis Ross and Latoya McPipe, secretary of the middle school, were on a tour of the facility in February when they saw the banner in the Hobby Crafts/Arts classroom, where Stepro works as the orderly.
 
They appeared moved by the work which depicts children of several different races together, with a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “…They will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
 
McPipe immediately asked if they could have the banner. “It depicts every shade not just one,” she said. “Our school has a mix of Hispanic, black, and white. Our school is all about unity. It caught my eye and we wanted it.”
 
McPipe said it would be laminated and placed in the entryway of the school where everyone can see it.
 
Stepro seemed touched by the request. “I was really surprised that they wanted it,” he said. “I was totally shocked. I hope the children and the parents who see it get the message that Dr. King shared to look past skin color and see people for who they are.”
 
Recreation Specialist Emily Guth supervises the Hobbycraft program. “I’m very proud of Stepro’s work on the banner,” she said. “I am very happy and thrilled that he is able to give something positive to the community.”
 
Warden Scott Middlebrooks said, “We are really proud of the work coming out of our art class, and especially Stepro’s work. He has contributed to a lot of projects for us.”
 
Stepro has worked in the Hobby Craft/Arts class for the past year. Prior to that, he was a GED tutor for 16 years. He said that he went 26 years without doing any art before taking the current job.
 
WCCF is managed by Management & Training Corporation or MTC of Utah.
 

Mobile, Ala. Native Vernon Guy Earns GED

#MTCChangesLives

Vernon Guy

WOODVILLE, Miss. – Mobile native Vernon Guy recently earned his GED at the Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF). Guy is the son of Carmen Guy and Vernon Dean, both of Mobile.
 

Guy said he is really excited about his achievement. “To be honest, Mr. [Branton] Lewis and Mrs. [Tracey] Arbuthnot had more confidence that I would pass than I did,” he said.
 

Branton Lewis, the Education Supervisor, said Guy was a good student. “Guy’s persistence paid off, and we are all proud of him.”
 

His instructor, LaKeisha Tolliver, said, “Guy is one of my most outstanding students, and he always motivates others to do well.” Tolliver went on to say that he has been a huge help in assisting other students.

Programs Director Tracey Arbuthnot said, “It is always good to see one of our men getting their GED. This is going to open a lot of doors for him in the future.”

When asked about his future plans, Guy said, “I plan to expand my education and help others prepare for their GED tests.”

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

Program Director Tracey Arbuthnot, Vernon Guy, and
Education Supervisor Branton Lewis

Felicia Williams: What She and the Board of Aldermen Have Accomplished for the Town of Centreville

By Roscoe Barnes III, PhD

#FeliciaWilliamsforMayor 

Felicia Williams

NOTE: This is a continuation of my interview with Felicia William, who is running for mayor of the town of Centreville. In this post, she explains what she and the Centreville Board of Aldermen have done for the citizens of their community. She addresses such issues as financial management, service improvements, facility improvements, and personnel management.

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What did you accomplish in your previous position as alderwoman?

As Alderwoman, I used an inclusive style of leadership to bring parties together to work toward a common goal. Giving due consideration to the challenges facing our town today and into the foreseeable future, I believe that style of leadership will serve us all well.

 

During my tenure as Alderwoman, the Board of Aldermen focused on four main areas, Financial Management, Service Improvements, Facilities Improvements and Personnel Management. I am proud of the improving services that the town of Centreville provides and I appreciate the opportunity to highlight a few of those improvements. 

Financial Management:

 

Finances are really the base of everything, so that is a good place to start. When the Mayor and Board of Aldermen took the oath of office almost four years ago, our Town was in poor financial condition. In addition to delinquent employer retirement and sales tax payments, our town owed garbage collectors and gas suppliers $100,000 for past due bills and late charges and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) $35,500 for unpaid 2014-2017 taxes.

 

Here are some of the things that were done to ensure that the Town of Centreville maintains a strong financial position:

* Purged non-operational and non-owned vehicles from town’s insurance policy.

* Adopted measures to ensure accountability in internal spending practices.

* Changed our health insurance policy to provide for better coverage for employees and a lower cost to the Town.  This change resulted in a $10,000 savings.

* Acquired $857,000 in additional insurance coverage for town property at a cost that was lower than our existing payment.

* Audited garbage collection services and made adjustments to ensure that the Town was not overcharged.

* Restructured town finances and accounting procedures to comply with state law and sound business practices.

* Limited overtime expenditures.

* Established contingency funds as required by law and sound business practices.

* Established cemetery fund to ensure proper maintenance of the Town’s cemetery.

* Collected $16,400 in unpaid franchise fees dating back to 2016.

* Approved $40,000 grant from Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

*Completed Audits from 4 prior fiscal years; (2014-2015), (2015-2016), (2016-2017); (2017-2018; the 2018-2019 Audit is in progress at this time.

* Balanced the Town’s budget with no increase in taxes or utility services fees.

Service Improvements:

 

The Board of Aldermen and employees of the town of Centreville are committed to improving the services we provide. This commitment to continuous improvement lays the foundation for service improvements and policies that focus on our community and for us to realize the Centreville we all want and deserve. Towards these ends, the Board of Aldermen:

 

* Established practices to ensure legality and impartiality in providing utility services to residents and businesses.

* Developed computerized work order system to track customer complaints and completion.

* Adopted Ordinance to improve maintenance and appearance of town cemetery.

* Developed and implemented plan to remove dangerous trees from roadways.

* Worked with the county supervisor to help repair potholes in town streets.

* Implemented the Immediate Response Information System (IRIS) system for utility customers.

* Provided uniforms for utility service and street department personnel to ensure that they are readily identified as Town employees.

* Developed the Town of Centreville’s Website.

* Updated the Town’s email address cityclerk@centrevillems.org.   

* Renamed street to honor the sacrifice and contributions of Centreville native Anne Moody.

* Implemented a policy for adjustments in water and sewer bills due to cold weather damaged pipes.

Facilities Improvements:

 

The town of Centreville’s facility improvements vary in scale and type which range from resolving small maintenance issues to space renovations. These projects also provide opportunities to improve accessibility so that programs and services are available to everyone.

 

Below is a list of improvement projects approved by the Board of Aldermen.

 

* Installed up-to-date security surveillance system in town hall.

* Installed emergency generator at the town hall to ensure continuous operations during power outages.

* Installed safety partitions in police department and town hall to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

* Replaced air conditioning unit in town hall.

*Made repairs to the restroom, flooring and emergency exit door of the town hall.

* Entered into a maintenance agreement for the repair and painting of the town’s water towers to maintain the quality of our water supply. The downtown water tower has been cleaned and painted and the town hall water tower has been cleaned and is being prepared for painting.

* Approved maintenance contract for emergency generators that operate water services in the event of a power outage.

* Updated computer system for utility services, police, court and clerical personnel. 

* Purchased vehicle for Utility Services Department.

* Coordinated with State Representative to acquire vehicle for the police department through State Homeland Security Grant.

* Relocated police department providing for reduced operating expense and increased efficiency.

* Installed WIFI in civic center to increase local training opportunities.

 

Personnel Management:

 

Personnel management involves the administrative tasks that address the hiring and compensation of employees. Its objectives are to recruit, train and retain the quality workforce necessary for the town of Centreville to meet its goals. As part of its personnel management, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen:

 

* Developed a comprehensive personnel policy manual for Town employees.

* Established hours for police department personnel to increase accountability.

* Established pay scale for police department personnel

* Implemented the Senior Community Service Employment Program for seniors 55 years and old older.

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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.