Ruby Morton embodies the ideals of Goodwill like few other  people. As a long-term  employee of Goodwill of South Mississippi she has always performed her duties with professionalism and kindness. She is above all a good example and support to everyone. We are very fortunate to have her as part of our team. Ruby Morton is a resident of Gulfport and a St. John the Evangelist parishioner. She works as telephone/receptionist and supervisor of personnel in the collection centers for Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi. She is the mother of eight children, grandmother of 20, and great-grandmother of six. After being blinded in gun accident at the age of 22, Ruby dedicated herself to raising the four children she had at the time and the four others born after the accident. Ruby began looking for work at an age when most of her peers were looking for retirement. After many failed attempts to find employment or volunteer opportunities, Ruby found work with Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi. Ruby says she found "a glimmer of light" at Goodwill. She began working one day a week, taking telephone calls. Later, she was trained to handle all telephone calls using a multi-line system, then to handle receptionist duties, and finally to assume the added responsibility as supervisor of Goodwill’s donation center attendants. In 2002, Goodwill Industries International honored Ruby with it’s Achiever of the Year Award, an annual distinction reserved for a Goodwill client who achieves job success at a local Goodwill despite workplace barriers. As part of her acceptance of this award, Ruby met with President Bush in the Oval Office. Ruby Morton is living proof that anyone can contribute to their community in meaningful ways, no matter their age or their abilities. Through her success, employers across the country see that hiring people with disabilities is a good investment – for the company, the community and the employee.   Return to the Goodwill of South Mississippi Home Page