Goodman Unit remembers ‘Silver Angels’ at Timberlake
By SHARON KERR

WARDEN JAMES JONES (left) visits with Timberelake resident Julia Faye Odom. Becky Gulley (above) delivers a beautifully wrapped gift to Leddress Manson.

James Jones has only been the warden at the Goodman Unit a few months, so he wasn’t certain how his staff would respond to a Christmas idea he had.

While it is fun to shop for toys, Jones knows many groups like Toys for Tots provide gifts for children. He was thinking of remembering the elderly, a group of people often forgotten during the holidays.

Jones asked his staff at the prison if they would be interested in sponsoring a “silver angels” program to buy gifts for residents of a nursing home who might not otherwise have a gift to open.

Jones’ secretary Becky Gulley contacted activity director Kay Lohr at Timberlake Health and Rehabilitation. The nursing home staff provided a wish list of gifts appropriate for each “angel.”

Jones was overwhelmed with the response of his staff. The Goodman Unit wound up adopting 33 “silver angels” and enjoyed shopping and wrapping beautiful gifts.

Gifts were delivered Monday, Dec. 18, to be opened by residents at the Thursday Christmas party at the home.

“Usually I buy token gifts out of a small budget provided by the home,” Lohr said, “But it is so much more enjoyable for the people when everyone has something nice to open.”

Lohr said she also receives help from Stat Care with food and goodies for the party.