WILLIE EARL MOFFETT JR. a resident of Antioch was born in Martinez, but has lived in East County & Pittsburg virtually all of his life. Willie graduated in 1977 from Pittsburg High School. He especially likes East County’s weather.
His parents are Carrie B. Grant and Willie Earl Moffett, Sr.
Willie has been employed with St. Vincent de Paul in Pittsburg since 1999 and is currently the operations manager overseeing two thrift stores. He supervises a staff of thirteen people and assists low-income community members and families when they are in need of furniture, clothing and other household goods.
He enjoys traveling and spending quality time with his family and watching his two favorite sports teams, the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco Giants.
The executive committee of St. Vincent de Paul recognized him for his outstanding work on behalf of the Society and the community.
He attends Los Medanos Community College.
His happiest life experience has been being able to help a tremendous amount of people throughout the community by assisting with basic human needs and being able to provide goods and services to help establish the first ever thrift store in Senegal, Africa with the help of St. Vincent de Paul.
Among his happiest moments were getting a job shortly after being released from prison; meeting his wife and being reunited with his parents and son. He also enjoyed a breathtaking trip to Hawaii. By far his most difficult life experience was his time in prison. Losing his oldest sister, Artelia Watson, was also one of the most difficult times in his life. His sister was his best friend.
He is proud to now be an active part of his son’s life. He was able to encourage him to go to college and follow through with his dream. Willie expects his son will graduate Tuskegee University in Alabama next year. Willie has created opportunities with St. Vincent de Paul for parolees who were unable to obtain employment due to their backgrounds or lack of experience. Many of these parolees have excelled and continued on to higher paying jobs with excellent benefits. One parolee had been in and out of prison and on parole for over 30 years and with Willie’s help and guidance and that of St. Vincent de Paul he has been home for over two years and was released from parole on April 1, 2004 a first in a lifetime experience for him. Willie’s aspiration is to help the youth of our community. Increased use of drugs, alcohol, guns and violence in our communities is a destructive influence in the lives of young people. He would like to be able to counter this negative with a positive by being a good role model and teaching our young people, helping them make productive choices and making them aware of the consequences of making bad choices. For every one child who goes to college there are 10 kids getting their first taste of the street life, guns and violence. He would love to see more all around activities for young people in East County, including youth development centers. He loves the diversity of our community and the opportunities the area offers to those who prepare themselves.
Willie’s mother has been his life role model and has always been there for him. She has raised several children, grandchildren and has been mother to many of the neighborhood children. She has always maintained employment and encouraged her children to go to school and to get an education. Graduation was a requirement not an option.
Please join me in saluting an outstanding citizen who is making a change in our community.
*Since this article was written by the Contra Costa Times, Willie’s father Willie Moffett Sr. passed away and was Honored by the U.S. Army Honor Guard. Attending the services were The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Board of Directors Bill Clark and his wife, Rick Richardson (Then President of the Board), Ron Weston, Executive Director of the Society, Yee Pang Corporate Comptroller and Staff members Bonnie Casey, Frances Panelli, Shirley Strausbaugh,
Willie’s son Willie Earl Moffett Jr. has graduated from the University of Tuskegee in Alabama. Willie is now married to his then fiancée Cara Moffett and they now have a beautiful 2 year old daughter Yesenia Lieara Moffett.
Willie came to the Society through The Keys to Success Program, worked with the Rapid Response Temporary Agency, was later hired full time to create the opportunity for others that he received and has now been associated with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul for 10 years. At present, Willie has developed a partnership with the Contra Costa County Office of Education, allowing for students who are special employees of the County Superintendents Office to work with the Society as part of an ongoing work study program. His responsibilities include hands on supervision of all Court Ordered Community
Service Volunteers.
In reviewing the post script notes for this article; Willie stated “he gives God all the praise for his work first, himself second and thanks his family & The Society of St. Vincent de Paul for opening the door for him, giving him the opportunity to perform Gods work and never closing the door.
“As a Society in Service to those most in need, it is a honor to recognize Willie’s work and his committed service…putting the needy ahead of himself.”
Ron Weston, Executive Director
