PEARL – The Mississippi Department of Corrections has announced the graduation of several new officers.One of which was Phillip Chatmon, who graduated Class 2017-3M on Friday.
“It has been a life changing experience physically, mentally and spiritually,” said Chatmon (shown in the first two pictures). “And, this has been the most challenging time of my life.
“I truly have sweated, strived, stayed focused and achieve,” Chatmon said, reciting the class motto.
The experience was one that Assistant Class Leader Garnell Moses sought out.
“I just wanted to try something new …, something different,” said Moses, a dialysis tech for 12 years.
Classmate Kameron Varns has already somewhat experienced what Chatmon and Moses are learning. That is, he was a corrections officer in another state.
“I was a corrections officer when I lived in Texas,” Varns (captured in the third picture) said. Moving here to Mississippi, I was a grill cook at Waffle House and looking for a career change.”
However, the job was “just too stressful,” he said. “I’m so glad to be back in corrections.”
Marshal Turner, a warden at South Mississippi Correctional Institution, told graduates to remain focused.
“Your perseverance will be tested to see if you have what it takes,” said Turner, guest speaker, I’m here to tell you to hold on when everyone else is not doing what they should be doing. You keep grinding.
The award recipients were Moses, the Leadership Award; Solia Cotton, Award of Honor; and Kamarcus Gardner and Kirk Reeves, Top Gun.
