December

Jacqueline Williams checks oil and fluids of her bus, no. 962, before every shift.
Jacqueline Williams checks oil and fluids of her bus, no. 962, before every shift.
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People of the U: Jacqueline Williams

Published on Tuesday, December 3, 2019

By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu

Passengers of Bus no. 962 get more than a ride to and from their workplace. They get a smile and a kind word from Jacqueline Williams.

Williams, a Groome Transportation driver for the past three years at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has been a commercial driver for more than 27 years. It’s a job she takes seriously, and always follows in her parent’s example and motto: “Whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability.”

“She’s an excellent employee,” said Robert Redd, operations manager for Groome, the company that keeps UMMC buses running around the Medical Center’s campus and to the Jackson Medical Mall each day. “Everything she does, she does it to a T.”

Before starting her shift driving the Red Line, Williams takes her attention to detail and applies it to her bus. Like all Groome drivers, Williams checks over the bus, popping the hood to check oil and radiator fluid levels and wear and tear on belts. Air pressure, tire condition and lights are checked over carefully.

“If it’s not perfect, she lets me know,” Redd said. “She is professional and looks at all of her duties in a professional manner.”

Jacqueline Williams’ care isn’t just about keeping her bus in tip-top shape. She also gives her passengers a friendly greeting and looks out for their safety, said Elizabeth Thoman, the registered nurse at the Children’s of Mississippi primary care clinic who nominated Williams to be included as a “Front and Center” profile.

“She’s always friendly,” said Thoman, “and she’s always looking out for our safety. She even has a stop sign so cars will stop for our bus like they would for a school bus. I just love her!”

For Williams, passengers like Thoman are the reason she loves her job. “The best part of driving at UMMC is communicating and having fun with all the people on 962.”


Every institution is rich with personal stories. We want to know ours.

Do you know a student, staff, volunteer or faculty member at the University of Mississippi Medical Center whose story would make an interesting feature or deserves to be recognized?

Know someone who you think more people should know about because of his or her commitment to his or her job and/or the people he or she works with or for? Who has a fascinating hobby? Who participates in a remarkable group? Who has accomplished something amazing?

We want to learn more about each individual who makes up our extraordinary UMMC Family, and we want to share what makes each person unique and special in the Front and Center section of our dynamic new UMMC Intranet.

To nominate someone to be considered for a Front and Center feature, just complete and submit this short form. If that person is picked for a feature, a member of the Communications and Marketing staff will contact him or her to learn more about his or her personal story.

Soon, the rest of the Medical Center will know why your nominee is an outstanding reminder of what makes this place so special – the Front and Center.