By Thomas Sellers Jr.
The new era of the Millington Crisis Center began January 5.
Six days after outgoing executive director Debra Sigee retired from the post, Margaret Mallory took over as the new executive director. Before the conclusion of 2021, Mallory shadowed Sigee, learning some of her methods and programs instituted over the last three years.
“I felt comfortable because she left it in great shape,” Mallory said of taking on her new job. “Paperwork in order, all you have to do is open up the drawer and pull it out. It was a good feeling because I’ve been in jobs when it wasn’t like that.
“The month I shadowed her I learned so much,” she added. “Although I’ve lived in Millington all my life, she has not, I learned a lot. She left this place to the point where anybody with a little knowledge could step into her shoes and carry it on. She has organized it and set standards that are great.”
Sigee took over the leadership of the Crisis Center back in January 2018 getting the organization in good standing with the state of Tennessee.
Also the focus of the Crisis Center was redirected to long-term solutions for those who seek the organization for help instead of temporary relief.
Mallory has a similar background to Sigee in community involvement.
“I’ve always been a person who wanted to help people,” she said. “Before I stepped in here, I’ve been the administrator for my church and one of our missions there is to help our community — Holy Faith United Ministries. I was doing referrals. We have a book that we use when people come asking for help.”
Mallory’s duties at her church made sure members and those who came seeking help got their rent paid, hotel fees paid, groceries and put gas into their motorized vehicles.
Mallory said like the Crisis Center, her church had to learn how to balance putting on a band-aid over wounds compared to teaching people how to heal their problems. Sigee left a blueprint Mallory is ready to implement.
“I had a book to refer them to resources… we’re a small church and we don’t have any money,” she recalled. “We have this book, I kept this book to refer them to places that I knew about our people from our church brought in so they could go get help. Some of this I was doing at the church. But I’ve always wanted to be a person who gives to the community.”
Mallory said for her role at the church to her new position at the Crisis Center, educating the public on policies, resources and budgeting will be the key to continuing the success of the organization.
“I want to implement some more education,” she noted. “If you know you do better. If you know better you should do better. I feel the more education you have and push it out there. I sat at home and thought, “How can we get this out to more people. I’ve been working on a letter to all the Millington area churches.”
Getting the word out about the Crisis Center to continue to serve the 38053 will always be one of Mallory’s top missions.
“I want people to understand we’re here to help them,” she concluded. “We’re not a crutch for you. We’re here to assist. We’re not going to take you and do it for you. You’re going to have to learn to do things on your own, for yourself and for your family.”
