Jennifer Reese spent most of her career helping shape Selma’s youth generation.

Reese recently announced her retirement after spending 10 years as the Program Director at the Camp Perry Varner and Juvenile Detention Center.

The Dallas County Commission presented Reese with a plaque at its Commission meeting Monday at the Dallas County Courthouse.

“It feels great that the Commission recognized me,” Reese said.

Dallas County probate judge Kim Ballard praised Reese for her dedication.

“I never heard a bad word about Mrs. Reese,” Ballard said.

Before working at the Detention Center, Reese worked 27 years at the United Methodist Children’s Home in Selma. The Children’s home closed in 2010 and eventually relocated to Montgomery. Reese stayed and remained in the Queen City, where she was eventually hired by Camp Perry Varner and Juvenile Detention Center.

Camp Perry Varner and Juvenile Detention Director Marcus Hannah enjoyed working with Reese and considered her invaluable to the organization.

“We called her the mother of the facility,” Hannah said. “She brought a wealth of experience to the detention center. She brought a calm to the center. She was priceless because those are skills you can’t teach.”

Reese, 60, will miss working with the youth.

“My whole career was working with children,” Reese said. “I believe the advice I gave the children will help them in life.”