About

The Quitman Lake Country Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the lives of people and animals of all ages living in the Quitman and surrounding Lake Country communities through charitable relief.

Purpose: Aid other organizations in funding projects, identify worthy projects that are beyond the capability of other organizations such as donations of property and other non-cash donations, help with needs of people and animals in distress, and accumulate larger funds for long term/large projects and endowment funds

Mission: To Promote the general improvement of the Quitman Lake Country and surrounding area, by improving quality of life and alleviating the effects of poverty and economic hardship through charitable relief and assistance.

Meet The Board

Joanne Wisdom, Chairperson

I am a licensed chiropractor with certification in acupuncture and rehabilitation. I have owned and operated Quitman Chiropractic and Acupuncture and Quitman Therapy and Rehabilitation in Quitman with my husband for 20 and 15 years respectively. Since coming to Quitman, I have served on many county, city, and civic boards and committees. I currently serve on the Quitman Lake Country Charitable Foundation Board as chairperson, Quitman-Lake Fork Kiwanis Club Board as secretary and multiple Committees, Wood County Historical Commission Board and multiple Committees, City of Quitman Parks and Recreations Board, Hometown Christmas Committee, and Wood County Economic Development Commission Health and Human Services Committee.

Dr. Randy Bennett, Vice Chairman

Dr. Bennett has practiced veterinarian medicine for 37 years and is the owner of Quitman Animal Clinic with his partner Dr. Jeremy Smith. He is originally from Oregon and Washington State. He was raised on a cattle ranch where he developed an interest in veterinary medicine. He attended Blue Mountain and Oregon State Universities and was a 1984 graduate of LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Bennett purchased the Quitman Animal Clinic from Dr. Joe Dawson’s Estate in June 1999.

Dr. Bennett is a member of the Quitman Lake Country Charitable Foundation and Quitman-Lake Fork Kiwanis Club. He has served in the past on the Quitman City Council, the Quitman Development Corp. Board and for the Quitman First United Methodist Church. His hobbies include flying and running a registered Angus ranch, Raven Angus. He lives in East Texas with his wife, Vanessa; his children Monica, Adam, and Neal; grandchildren Bailey and Riley; and his animal companions, Abba the neutered male Abyssinian cat and Belle the Boston Terrier.

JR Evans, Treasurer

I have been a resident, with my wife Sandra, of Quitman and Wood County since 2003; after retiring from a major Electrical Utility and the US Army/USAR. Since being here I have served on both city and county Boards & Commissions, served on the Quitman City Council and was Mayor of the city, serving two terms. I am currently a member of the Maxcine Nash Scholarship Board, American Legion, Quitman Cemetery Association, Quitman/Lake Fork Kiwanis, Wood County Crime Stoppers, and Treasurer/Board member of the Quitman Lake County Charitable Foundation, since 2014.

Richard E. "Dick" Roberts, Secretary

Bio and picture coming soon

Rhonda Turner, Director

Rhonda Turner is veteran educator with over thirty-one years of experience. The last fifteen years have been spent serving the students of Quitman Independent School District where she has held the roles of assistant principal, Assistant Superintendent and since 2012-13 has served as Superintendent of Schools.

Mrs. Turner received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Texas A&M University in Commerce, Texas followed by a Masters of Business Education degree in Educational Leadership from LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas and post graduate work at Texas A&M University, Commerce, Texas. She holds four certifications with the State Board of Education including an elementary general, elementary reading, principal and Superintendent certification.

Mrs. Turner has participated in numerous leadership cohorts including the SMU Peer-to-Peer Leadership cohort and the Bob Thompson Superintendent Academy. Among her greatest professional experiences was an opportunity to visit schools and observe students in the New York Public School System and attend a leadership seminar at Columbia University as part of a yearlong leadership growth experience. Mrs. Turner is adamant about professional growth personally and for those that are in the education profession. She is also passionate about educating children and believes that every child deserves an opportunity to learn.

Mrs. Turner serves on several boards and committees including UT Health Quitman, Region VII Educational Service Center Executive Committee, Region VII Educational Service Center Advisory Committee, President of the technology consortium SuperNET II and the Quitman Lake Country Charitable Foundation.

When Mrs. Turner isn’t at work, or at one of the many extra-curricular activities she attends she enjoys spending time outside with her husband Scott on their small ranch right outside of Quitman. She also enjoys camping and exploring the State Parks of Texas.

The Turners’ have two grown children and five precious grandchildren.

Orval Lindsey, Director

Mr. Lindsey is a retired business man living for the past 43 in Quitman, TX. He is a graduate of East Texas State University, Brigham Young University and Oregon State Teacher College, and holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master in Education Degrees. He taught for 6 years in Quitman before going into animal pharmaceuticals, and retiring from Pfizer in 2011.

He has served six years on the Quitman ISD School Board as well as the Wood County Farm Bureau board, the Quitman Lake Country Charitable Foundation, and the Wood County Central Hospital district. He now owns a small cattle and timber operation in Upshur County.