The Pate House Administrative Staff
June Thomas, Program Director
June Thomas is originally from New Jersey. Ms. Thomas worked for 25 years plus as a paralegal at various law firms in the New York-metropolitan area. In 1998, she enrolled in Fairleigh Dickinson University. At first she thought she was only going to obtain an Associate’s Degree, but she continued and in 2003 received a Bachelors of Science Degree in business administration. In 2006, Ms. Thomas furthered her education and received an advanced Masters Degree in Public Administration. She was inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha a global honor society for public administration. Pi Alpha Alpha recognizes outstanding students in public administration. Ms. Thomas also possesses a NJ Teachers Certificate and is a South Carolina Notary Public.
Ms. Thomas is an educator that will continue to be an advocate for the labor movement, prison reforms and injustice. Like most educators her passion is in helping people succeed to transform their lives. Ms. Thomas currently resides in Charleston. South Carolina.
Roy Harris, Assistant Director
Many of those involved in the prison ministry have already met Roy Harris. We asked Roy to tell us his story and share some of his goals so that we might share this with those interested in “The Pate House” Charity.
“Before coming to prison, I was a business owner and I worked a second job to help get my business up and running. I belonged to several organizations including: Masonic Lodge, Elks Temple, and The Brotherhood of Grand Lodges. I was considered the go to person for lectures and speaking topics. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and have always liked helping people reach their potential, especially those that society has cast aside. That includes helping the homeless, the drug addicts, and those that have been in jail or prison. Upon being sentenced to prison myself I quickly learned how those that you have trusted can turn their backs on you or become frightened to be associated with you. At times even denying that they “really” know you. Its easy to became angry, resentful, or feel unforgiving when this happens. It really dawned on me how those I had helped in the past must have felt.
When you feel like your family has gone on with their life and been too busy to remember you or when your children fail to stay in contact with you, prison can become a very lonely place. Without the help of some of those loving groups like KIAROS it would have been even harder. Those groups came into the prison to share a meal and show us the love of God through Christ. Through their counseling and prayer they have helped bring back hope into our lives. Here in these meetings, I must also mention, that I met other inmates that helped me as well. B-Rock, whom I will always be grateful to for helping me on the days that I didn’t feel like getting out of bed. He would always be there to encourage me and remind me to go forward. B-Rock has been in prison since the age of 17; he is now 43. I know these loving groups of people helped him too. B-Rock has more determination than a lot of people that are not in prison.
While I was in prison I attended every class that I could. Our Warden, Mr. John Pate started a program called Character Based Housing Unit aka (CHU) for short. It allowed for a separate living unit for those inmates that wanted to change their way of living and thinking. This program, started, September of 2011. Soon it caught on and the local paper, radio stations and then the governor came to visit us to learn about the program. Lives have been changed and I must say that God has shown me what is meant by, “Love your neighbor”.
My life has truly changed for the better. I believe that this is the reason God has placed it on my heart to be a part of starting this Home. A place where people can come and feel safe and not be judged immediately for their past. A place they can really start over. A place where they can reconnect with their families and continue their growth to a better life. They will have a real chance to become productive citizens in their community and not Re-offend. I believe that with the help of KIAROS Celebrate Recovery and other such loving groups this program will be a success. I must also add that I completed their program and became an inmate Rector for KIAROS. It’s my hope that this home will provide a safe and structured living environment where we can offer support and help get people back to work and on their own feet again. I believe I am qualified to manage the home and oversee the residents.”