WOOSTER — Family members, longtime friends, fellow pastors and law enforcement officials gathered in the basement of the Wayne County Justice Center recently to wish a tireless worker farewell as he headed into retirement.
“His heart was always in the right place,” Capt. James Richards said of the Rev. Lee Anderson, the chaplain of the Wayne County Jail for the past 41 years who was retiring. Richards read a passage from the New Testament about how Jesus thanked his followers for feeding him, caring for him, clothing him and visiting him in prison. Not recalling when they ever did those things to Jesus, his followers asked when did they do it. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you …show more content…
“In honor of you, we will continue to take care of them,” Richards said. “I would tell you, ‘God bless you,’ but I know he already has.”
Sheriff Travis Hutchinson recalled a time when he was a deputy and saw a man wearing a Smith Dairy shirt and hat. He was wanting to come into the jail, and Hutchinson told the man he would be right with him, not realizing the man in the Smith Dairy uniform was the chaplain.
“He would leave work and come right here,” Hutchinson said. “That shows you his dedication.”
Lee Anderson did not make any speech at his retirement reception, rather he walked around the room, shook hands and thanked each one for letting him to the Lord’s work at the jail.
His wife, Sharon Anderson, thanked everyone for their support and her children for all the sacrifices they made growing up.
Jerome Anderson said sometimes he would get mad at his father because he was always on the go. “I would say, ‘Dad, just get some rest.’ But, he loved people.”
Daughters Jhordas DeGraffinreed and Vicki Webb spoke about how proud they were of their father and his faithfulness to God and
“His heart was always in the right place,” Capt. James Richards said of the Rev. Lee Anderson, the chaplain of the Wayne County Jail for the past 41 years who was retiring. Richards read a passage from the New Testament about how Jesus thanked his followers for feeding him, caring for him, clothing him and visiting him in prison. Not recalling when they ever did those things to Jesus, his followers asked when did they do it. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you …show more content…
“In honor of you, we will continue to take care of them,” Richards said. “I would tell you, ‘God bless you,’ but I know he already has.”
Sheriff Travis Hutchinson recalled a time when he was a deputy and saw a man wearing a Smith Dairy shirt and hat. He was wanting to come into the jail, and Hutchinson told the man he would be right with him, not realizing the man in the Smith Dairy uniform was the chaplain.
“He would leave work and come right here,” Hutchinson said. “That shows you his dedication.”
Lee Anderson did not make any speech at his retirement reception, rather he walked around the room, shook hands and thanked each one for letting him to the Lord’s work at the jail.
His wife, Sharon Anderson, thanked everyone for their support and her children for all the sacrifices they made growing up.
Jerome Anderson said sometimes he would get mad at his father because he was always on the go. “I would say, ‘Dad, just get some rest.’ But, he loved people.”
Daughters Jhordas DeGraffinreed and Vicki Webb spoke about how proud they were of their father and his faithfulness to God and