The library at WCU’s Tradition campus was re-named the Jerry Bracey Learning Resource Center in honor of the retiring dean.
For more than a quarter-century, Jerry Bracey has worked hard for William Carey University’s Tradition campus. Over the summer, he announced his retirement.
“I love all the people, and my time here has meant a lot to me. It’s been a real blessing. The faculty and staff care about each other, and they care about the students. Everybody works together to make things happen. It’s a family,” Bracey said.
“I’m going to work until the last minute, of the last hour, of the last day of my contract.”
And so he did, leaving Tradition Aug. 14 at 5:30 p.m.
Bracey was dean of what was called “Carey on the Coast” when Hurricane Katrina struck. The campus was right on the beach. Dr. Cassandra Conner, new dean of Tradition campus, described what came next.
“When we left campus on Friday, we were prepared for a storm, but we didn’t know it was going to be the monster it turned out to be. When we came back to school on Monday, all our buildings were destroyed,” Conner said.
“So Jerry went to the superintendent of Gulfport and secured a building for his night classes, and then he went to a local pastor and secured buildings for his MBA and nursing programs. He didn’t stop there. He secured trailers and brought all the students back together on one campus.
“We were in trailers for three years, but look at us now.”
“Not a retirement party”WCU President Dr. Tommy King praised Bracey’s integrity during a “not a retirement party” fish fry in July.
“Dean Jerry Bracey didn’t want a retirement party, so we’re having a fish fry, because we had to come together to wish him many happy years in retirement and thank him for the outstanding job he has done for William Carey University,” King said.
“The list of his accomplishments is long. His dedication to recovery after the hurricane, his commitment to establishing the Tradition campus, his help in guiding the WCU School of Pharmacy in its early stages, opening two buildings in two months – these give him a permanent place in the history of William Carey University.”
In their memories of Bracey, one person after another talked about his kindness.
Dr. Deborah Chatham of the nursing faculty described a committee meeting Bracey chaired years ago. She said nurses tend to be assertive and their meetings are sometimes noisy. The meeting ended and she went home, thinking nothing remarkable had occurred.
The phone rang about 9 a.m. It was Jerry Bracey.
“He was calling was to check on me. He was concerned about whether he had offended me or said anything to upset me. And I remember thinking, first off, no, of course not,” Chatham said.
“But it said a lot to me about his character, that he was concerned. I knew then it was part of his Christian belief that he always wanted people to feel respected.”
What’s next?Jerry Bracey plans to get deeply involved in his church, Mosaic Church in Ocean Springs where, he explained, the Lord puts broken pieces back together again.
“We don’t have a men’s ministry and I want to start one,” Bracey said.
“I also want to volunteer at Home of Grace in Vancleave. It’s a faith-based addiction recovery program. They can use willing hands for all kinds of jobs, like taking people being treated to their doctor’s appointments.”
Bracey says he’ll stop by to visit his friends to WCU-Tradition from time to time, too.