Stimulus Money Places Housing Authority Project Ahead Of Schedule

The Lawrence Turner Community Building.

Among those attending the dedication of the Lawrence Turner Community Building were (from left) Holly Knight, Director of Public Housing in Mississippi; Barron Caulfield, Executive Director of the Water Housing Authority, Mary Merchant, acting Director of the Jackson Field Office; and James Moody, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.

Holly Knight, Director of Public Housing in Mississippi, speaks to guests and family members.

By Jack Gurner
Reporter

WATER VALLEY – The first completed building project in the state funded by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was dedicated last Friday in the Rolling Hills community.

The Lawrence Turner Community Building, originally to be built using a 2009 Capital Fund Grant, was completed sooner than planned thanks to the stimulus money, according to Barron Caulfield, Executive Director of the Water Housing Authority.

“The new building gives the family designated area of Rolling Hills a community center of its own and relieves the load on the much used Edgar Community Building on Hunt Lane,” Caulfield said.

The first activity to use the building will be the authority’s “After-School” program.

Attending from the HUD office in Jackson were Mary Merchant, acting Director of the Jackson Field Office and Holly Knight, Director of Public Housing in Mississippi.  

Also present were housing authority staff and the Board of Commissioners as well as members of the family of former employee Lawrence Turner.  

In memorializing Lawrence Turner housing authority Executive Director, Barron Caulfield, remembered him as a model employee who cared about the authority residents.

“He was a leader and counselor to other employees, and he was a friend,” Caufield said.