he 2025 Employees of the Year are Maurice Woods for Direct Care, Rena Rideout for Clinical Service, and Teresa Wilson for Support Services
Mississippi State Hospital celebrated its 2025 Employees of the Year during the annual Employee Recognition Event held Thursday, April 23, in the Public Relations Conference Center. This year’s theme, “Painting in The ’Sip,” brought a fun and creative touch to the celebration. Kelli Ponder Reynolds of Mendenhall, owner and operator of Art with Kiki, opened the event by leading the 2025 Employees of the Month in a painting class. Each honoree painted and textured the state of Mississippi using a color of their choice. The MSH Art Department, including Ceci Whitehurst, Ricky Shelby, and Betty Thompson, led a group art project with participation from Employees of the Month and guests. The finished piece, pictured on page 3, will be displayed on campus. The program opened with a welcome from Amy Walker, President of Friends of Mississippi State Hospital, Inc., followed by the invocation from Melvin Collins, Chaplain with MSH Pastoral Care. MSH Director James G. “Bo” Chastain, shared remarks and introduced guests. The Employee Recognition Committee, which votes each month on Employees of the Month, was also recognized. Committee members include Chiquita Boyd, Stacey Davis, Robert Dixon, Michelle Jackson, Mary Moore, Johnnie Clark, Marie Bingham, Kina Woods, and Michael Robinson. Guests enjoyed Art Trivia led by Carolyn Trigg, Friends of MSH, Inc. Board Member, along with a meal provided by Cura Hospitality. Chastain, Walker, and MSH Human Resources Director Bo Blanks recognized each of the 2025 Employees of the Month before the program concluded with the announcement of the 2025 Employees of the Year. “We spend the largest amount of our time each week at work, and that being the case there are few things better in life than coming to work and having great people to work with,” Chastain said. “That’s who our Employees of the Month are, and we are so thankful to be able to celebrate them today.” Wendy Bailey, Director of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, also thanked the honorees for the care they show each day. “We are so proud and honored that these employees work for Mississippi State Hospital,” Bailey said. “They pour their heart and their soul into taking care of the patients and residents they serve, and they help us fulfill our mission each and every day. So this is a small way to honor them for their dedication day in and day out. We could not be Mississippi State Hospital without them.”
The 2025 Employees of the Year are Maurice Woods for Direct Care, Rena Rideout for Clinical Service, and Teresa Wilson for Support Services.