After more than a year of searching, the Wesley House Community Center Board of Directors has hired  Elizabeth Graham as its new executive director.

Graham is the first permanent director of the community center since the fall of 2014 when former director Ginger Grissom retired.

Graham holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and a Master of Education from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. She also serves as a deaconess for the United Methodist Church.

Bill Cole, president of the board for Wesley House says the board is revitalized and thrilled Wesley House has finally found their face and voice in Graham.

“When I first met Mrs. Graham I knew immediately she was the one for the job,” Cole said. “She was a delight to speak to, and frankly, was heaven sent. Our interim director at the time, Pam Randall had just informed me the clergy was relocating her after 18 years in Meridian. It just so happened the day she told me she was moving was the day we hired Mrs. Graham.”

Cole said other candidates for the post were qualified, but there was a spark in Graham that made her stand out.  

“She brings a sense of humility and class to the Wesley House, that was very much needed,” Cole said. “I am excited for her to be here, and I know the board is too. We are excited to work with her as we go through the next year and the years to follow.”

 Graham, who has spent a majority of her life in Louisiana, says she is delighted to be in Mississippi, the state where she was born.

“I was born in Vicksburg, but grew up in Tallulah, Louisiana, and after graduating I attended Southern Methodist University in Texas,” Graham said. “I taught school for about 30 years and then I retired for about four years ago. During that time, I got involved doing a lot of volunteer work, that’s when I decided I wanted to become a United Methodist deaconess.”

It was during that time Graham became outreach director and director of operations for the United Methodist Committee on Relief Sager Brown Supply Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana.  It was during her two-year tenure at Sager Brown the opportunity to apply for the position at Wesley House presented itself to her, she said.

“I heard about the position through the deaconess office in New York, so I got on the website and applied for it,” Graham said. “I just felt like it was the place I was supposed to come. I really believe in the kind of services and the work that goes on here. Being a retired school teacher, the pre-school and all of that is next to my heart.

Graham says she believes we are here to be the feet and hands of Christ.

“Coming to Wesley House was just another wonderful opportunity to do that,” Graham said. “The philosophy here is ‘a hand up, and not a hand out’, and I feel very strongly about that.

Graham says she believes the work at Wesley House is very important, and she is excited to be a part of it. To that end, she’ll be searching for new ways Wesley House can serve the community.

“One of the things I feel like is always important when you go to a new place is to get to know the people, and the community,” Graham said. “I may have all these great ideas, but they may not be needed here in Meridian. I don’t want to re-invent the wheel, nor duplicate services.

“I want to assess the situation, and hear what people have to say about what they want Wesley  House to be, and how we can best serve the community. I’m always open for suggestions, constructive criticism, that is how we learn and grow.”

Graham said one thing she would like to see is more volunteers at Wesley House.

“I would love for people to come in and volunteer on a weekly or monthly basis,” she said. “We have lots of things that can be done, working in the clothing closet and the food pantry.”

“I want people to see Wesley House as a place where people are doing the very best they can to be the hands and feet of Christ on this earth,” Graham said. “That we give hope, and show the love of Christ, to not just say it, but do it.

“This is all about doing God’s work, and nothing to do with me. I am here to serve God and fulfill my calling. I want people to come by and introduce themselves, and get to know me. What you see, is what you get here.” 

Outside of Work

Outside of work, Graham says her favorite hobby is following the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.

“I grew up listening to them on the radio with my dad, so I have been a fan for a long time,” she said. “We go every year to opening day. I also like to sew, quilt, and read, another passion of mine. I do a lot of that while I am watching baseball on tv.

Graham and her husband, Sam, have three children, seven grandchildren, and a dog.

Looking ahead

 Wesley House intends to host a meet and greet after Graham settles in the job for the community to have an opportunity to get to know her, Cole said.

“I want it to be different from the predecessors of yesteryear,” Cole said. “I don’t want Wesley House to become about one person, if it’s not about Jesus Christ. Wesley House is going to be about how we are going to serve his mission.

 “Mrs. Graham actually opened with that in her interview, so we are very like-minded that way. It is not about sensationalizing anything, it’s much more about spreading the mission.”