Georgia Department of Corrections
Brian Owens, Commissioner
Director of Public Affairs
Joan Heath
Contact: Office of Public Affairs (404) 656-9772
STATE OF GEORGIA
For Immediate Release
GDC Names Employee of the Year
Chaplain Susan F. Bishop Honored with Award
Atlanta – The Department of Corrections honored Chaplain Susan Bishop as Employee of the Year at the Sixth Annual GDC Awards program on Thursday, April 29, 2010 at the State Offices South at Tift College in Forsyth.
“Chaplain Bishop consistently displays outstanding dedication to her job and the Department,” said Commissioner Brian Owens. “Her leadership of the “Voices of Hope” Choir has given hope to inmates at Metro State Prison,” added Owens.
Chaplain Bishop began her career with the Department of Corrections in 1977 as a Clinical Chaplain intern until acquiring permanent status in 1980. She has served as Chaplain at Metro State Prison for the last 33 years. Bishop works tirelessly with the “Voices of Hope” Choir and has coordinated with four different seminaries to provide up to 240 additional pastoral services through interns. Through her efforts, more than $500,000 has been contributed to prison programs.
Several key officials were on hand for the ceremony, which was attended by more than 300 guests. Making the award presentation with the Commissioner were Board of Corrections Chairman Larry Wynn, Assistant Corrections Commissioner Derrick Schofield, and special guest speaker, Brigadier General (Ret.) C. Stewart Rodeheaver.
The Department of Corrections is the fifth largest prison system in the United States and is responsible for supervising nearly 60,000 state prisoners and over 150,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 13,000 employees.####