Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, Inc. Honors Hall’s Lifetime of Community Service and Advocacy

WARNER ROBINS, GA., August 13, 2024—Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, Inc. (MGCAA) is pleased to announce the recipient of this year’s Wilbur P. Jones Award, presented by the Georgia Community Action Association, to Jesse Hall. The 94-year-old Byron resident was selected for the award based on his lifetime of service to the people of Middle Georgia.

“Mr. Hall exemplifies the qualities required for a Wilbur P. Jones Award recipient,” said Tammy Sosebee, executive director of MGCAA. “For more than 50 years, he has demonstrated a commitment to improving the quality of life for low-income, elderly, handicapped, and minority individuals and families across Middle Georgia.”

The Wilbur P. Jones award is presented annually by the Georgia Community Action Association to someone not employed by the local community action organization. The award was named in memory of the respected Georgia-based community activist.

Hall has been a member of the MGCAA board of directors since 1974, having been a charter member of the organization. He is listed in the Articles of Incorporation as one of the ten inaugural board members in the organization’s 1974 charter.

During Hall’s board tenure and with his considerable contributions to its governance, the agency has grown from serving just four counties at its inception to its current 22-county service area. In addition to his stalwart commitment to the communities served through MGCAA, Hall has also been an advocate for the organization’s employees, championing better wages, benefits, and fair treatment of staff. He continues to attend all board meeting, participates in committee meetings, and attends training sessions as he is able. He is currently an active member of the planning, personnel, and executive committees of the board.

Recently, he advocated for the creation of a senior center in Byron, Georgia. He worked with city officials to identify space for the center and offered advice to staff on securing other resources for the project. In part because of his engagement in this process, MGCAA was able to secure approval and funding for the center, which opened its doors to the senior citizens of Byron just last month.

Hall previously served as a Byron city councilman, a role in which he assisted in securing space for the Neighborhood Service Center in Byron. His past involvement with the Middle Georgia Regional Commission enabled him to keep the MGCAA abreast of opportunities and to serve as advocate for the agency with the commission.

According to Sosebee, one of Hall’s biggest contributions to MGCAA and the communities it serves is his ability to articulate a vision for growth, harmony, and peace. “He is always encouraging us to ‘get along,’ ‘love one another,’ and ‘take care of each other.’ He cares about us all,” said Sosebee. “I call Mr. Hall ‘the Great Encourager!’ Everyone needs a Mr. Hall on their side.”

Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, Inc. provides a host of programs designed to alleviate the impact of poverty for the people of Butts, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Lamar, Monroe, Peach, Pike, Spalding, Twiggs & Upson

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The mission of Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, Inc. is To empower low-income individuals and families in Middle Georgia by providing
comprehensive services that address immediate needs and promote long-term self-sufficiency,in collaboration with community partners. The agency oversees 20 Head Start centers; provides food, clothing, shelter, prescriptions, and utilities assistance to low-income families; and offers services to seniors designed to improve their quality of life by providing nutritious meals, opportunities for social interaction, and general education. In addition, MGCAA’s Weatherization Housing Program reduces heating and cooling costs for low-income families—particularly for the elderly, people with disabilities, and children—by improving the energy efficiency of their homes.