During the American Legion Department of Louisiana convention (state-level meeting) held in Alexandria June 2-5, Ella Dartez-Williams (center) was named the American Legion Citizen of the Year for Louisiana. Shown presenting the award is American Legion Department Commander Richard Bell (left) and National Security Commission Chairman Johnny Square (right). Dartez-Williams was a 34-year employee with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury (CPPJ) – Calcasieu Business & Career Solutions Center for Jeff Davis Parish in Jennings, where she worked as a career counselor. After her retirement she moved on to two jobs, which she does simultaneously. She is a paraprofessional at Ward Elementary School in Jennings, where she provides valuable assistance to the faculty and staff, and at which she enjoys the admiration and respect of the students. She is also a commissioned deputy with the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office, where she helps to protect the elderly through Sheriff Ivy Woods’ Elderly Affairs program.

Dartez-Williams is a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church (OLPH), where she is chair of the Social Justice Committee, usher, secretary/treasurer of the OLPH Altar Society, board member of the East Deanery Serra Club, board member of Cub Scout Troop 9, and secretary of the OLPH St. Vincent DePaul organization. She is past second vice president of the OLPH Parish Council, a past Grand Lady of Knights of Peter Claver Court 132, and OLPH Evangelization secretary.

In her community she has shown her leadership abilities by coordinating Martin Luther King celebrations, breast/prostate cancer workshops, religious workshops, teen workshops, blood drives, elderly programs and sickle cell drives. She has been co-chair of the KLFY-TV Food Net program. She has coordinated the Red Cross Emergency Preparedness program for Jeff Davis Parish. She has also been a board member of Communities Against Domestic Abuse (CADA), Jennings Garden Club member, Jennings American Legion Hospital Board member, Advisory Board member for JD Bank, member of the Jennings Municipal Fire & Police Civil Service Board, and a Jennings Zoning Board member. She has been a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 19 for 10 years and has served as president for the last three years.