Willson honored by Boys & Girls Clubs

ALBANY, Ga. — Longtime community advocate Jane Willson was presented the prestigious Service to Youth Award Wednesday for her 33 years of dedicated service to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany.

Willson received the honor from Ed Deming, executive director of the club, during a meeting of its executive committee.

Deming, who presented Willson with the official award certificate and pin, said the honoree had served in “every position” at the Boys & Girls Clubs, including president, vice president, Support a Boy/Girl Campaign chair and Capital Campaign chair.

“I didn’t prepare for this,” Willson said as she accepted the certificate. “I believe everybody should share.”

“This is a national award of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and only a few of them are given each year,” Deming said. “Not only has she invested her time with the clubs, she spends her money as well.”

Willson later said she became involved with Boys & Girls Clubs because of the worthiness of the cause. She said the single “unit” of operation in existence when she became involved has now grown to nine.

Willson and her late husband, William H. Willson, founders of Sunnyland Farms Inc., have a long history of involvement in the community. Jane Willson has served on the board and as chair of the Albany-Dougherty Inner City Authority. She was Albany’s 1983 Woman of the Year.