By Terra Avilla
As long as I have known Juanita Williams, she has been someone who is kind, and funny, and strong.
In fact, the more I get to know her, the more in awe of her I become. I used to only get to see little tidbits whenever my job and hers (at the Salvation Army) intertwined. However, over the years she has become someone who I consider to be a friend, and also a very underrated staple within our community.
She does not let her surrounding define her worth or identity. The Juanita I see at her work is the Juanita I see eating lunch with her friends and is the Juanita I see sitting at the baseball park rooting on her son.
Juanita is not affected by outside sources. (sometimes including my negativity) I have known Juanita for years and can honestly say that the woman is always even tempered, yet not a pushover. Can speak her mind, without speaking over anyone and is a huge leader, while contemporaneously being a great team member, I do not know how she does it.
Juanita works and helps manages our local Salvation Army. I know I don’t need to tell you all how important that agency is to our community, but it is important to stress that it is able to do so much good because it has Juanita and her huge heart at the helm.
Juanita is always willing to put in extra time, and the things she accomplished with minimal resources are truly amazing. She has a servant’s heart, meaning she not only puts other’s needs ahead of hers, but she also serves with the right motivation.
Juanita sits on many boards and wears many hats, one being a Board Member for Holiday with a Hero. Mind you, during HWAH’s busy season, Juanita is also orchestrating Salvation Army’s Bell ringing, as well as Salvation Army Tree tags.
However, Juanita never misses a meeting, and watching her in meetings it is evident that she doesn’t show up to simply jot down bragging rights for being on the board, but that she really has the best wishes for youth in our community.
Even when I get frustrated and overwhelmed, Juanita is always calming and somehow, always knows just what to say, or what to do. In fact, this past year, when the HWAH team had to reorganize our delivery method, Juanita’s knowledge in present delivery was priceless.
Outside of her volunteering and work life, Juanita is an avid churchgoer, a proud mother and loving wife.   Juanita makes it no secret that her family is very important to her and I love watching her speak about her sons. She is one proud momma, and it warms my heart how much she dedicates to her family.
How she manages to balance her continual kindness, work ethic, organizational skills, as well as maintaining her home life, I really don’t know. What I do know, is I am very thankful for her friendship and all that she does for our community.
