Presbyterian Home Celebrates
First Year Under New Leadership

The Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega and Sylacauga, Alabama, is celebrating its first full year under the leadership of newly installed President William S. Wills.

Rev. Wills was elected the 14th president of the 135-year-old Presbyterian Home for Children in August, 2002. Before that, he was the Vice President of Resource Development at the Thornwell Home and School for Children in Clinton, SC, a ministry of the Synod of South Atlantic, PC(USA).

During his first year at the Home, Rev. Wills has overseen a renovation of the curriculum at the school, changes in the worship program which will culminate with new Sunday services for the 45 children who live at the Home, and the successful pursuit of foundation funding for major campus repairs.

A native of Pittsburgh, he is a graduate of Tarkio College in Missouri, a Presbyterian college, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He was ordained into ministry in the Presbyterian Church in 1968 and served two parishes in the Midwest before turning to specialized church ministries. For 20 years, he was a consultant to churches of all denominations in the development and management of retirement communities and services.

In his comments at the installation service last year, Rev. Wills praised the history of the Home saying, “This heritage of healing and hope would not have been realized without the indispensable blessing of the grace of God and the graciousness of God’s people.” He also recognized the challenge to “every Presbyterian Church and every kind heart” to “help those shattered families put their lives back together in a way that brings a sense of peace and a future with hope.”

The next few years will bring an increased focus on education including the pursuit of accreditation for the Home’s school, Hope Academy.