DIOCESAN NEWS
09/12/08
..............................................................................................................................................

Raff’s career dovetailed with her spirituality
By Fabvienen Taylor
     JACKSON — Linda Raff made it easy for her daughter, Lauren Raff Gehman, to follow in her footsteps to a career in social work.
     “She was always so passionate about representing people who were so vulnerable,” said Gehman, 33, who lives in New Orleans with husband Ney and their two young children, Clayton and Mary Emma.
     Linda Raff was energized by her work, said Gehman.
     “It never seemed mundane. Why wouldn’t I be attracted to that? She pursued her work with such power and felt so strongly about it. I never once heard her complain about going to work. It was always about helping people. There was something always so loving about that,” said Gehman.
     Friday, Aug. 29, was Linda Raff’s last day, officially, as executive director of Catholic Charities Inc. Greg Patin is the new executive director.
     Raff, appointed executive director in 1994, was hired as associate director in 1979 under Father Elvin Sunds, executive director.
     Then-Bishop Joseph Brunini, in the tradition of Catholic social teaching, was concerned that while much progress had been made in Mississippi, it was all too evident the state was still the poorest in the country, according to Raff.
     “Father Sunds was supportive of moving the agency forward in identifying unmet needs and securing the funding to provide much-needed services, Raff said.
     Over time, Catholic Charities grew from a budget of $150,000 with eight employees in 1979 to 200 employees and a budget of $10,000,000.
     In 2007, the agency had served over 30, 000 individuals.
     “This could not have been accomplished without the help and support of the staff, the Governance Board, the Board of Directors, our many funders and donors,” said Raff.      “Catholic Charities’ success involves many, many people who are committed to its work and mission.”
     Bishop Joseph Latino of the Diocese of Jackson was always impressed by Raff, whom he described as a team player with the diocese.
     “Linda Raff’s 29 years of service to the Diocese of Jackson, beginning first as Catholic Charities associate director for 15 years and finally, 14 years as the executive director have been a great blessing to the Catholic Diocese of Jackson and the thousands of people to whom she has faithfully ministered,” he said.
     “The majority of her adult life’s work has truly been a dedication to, and the fulfillment of one of the gospel’s most important messages: ‘When you do it for the least of my brothers and sisters, you do it for me.’
     “Even before she began her career with the diocese, she was involved with the Mississippi Department of Public Welfare and wore a number of hats in public and social services.
     “When she became a part of the diocese’s Catholic Charities office, she inherited an active and well-administered office; but compared to the present, it was small-time in its size and outreach.
     “Under her dedicated leadership, it is now big-time with unbelievable big outreach and constantly growing to serve the ever-growing needs of all the needy,’ said Bishop Latino.
Barbara Pigott, director of social services, started at Charities eight months after Raff.
     “Linda has been an outstanding leader for the agency; she is a visionary who thinks outside the box and uses creativity in finding solutions,” said Pigott.
     “She is very diplomatic but firm and will fight tenaciously for what she believes in. Her life has been lived serving the poor and vulnerable following the mission of Catholic Charities,” she said.
     Working for Charities, said Raff, 65, enabled her to integrate her spiritual and professional goals of making a difference in the world.
     “I have also said many times that I wish I was 35 and knew everything I know now and could continue in this great work,” Raff said.
     “Every day is a challenge. I can truthfully say I have never had a boring moment at Catholic Charities — frustrating at times, giant hurdles to overcome, continuous constant overwhelming needs at our doorstep daily, terrible stories of neglect, abuse, and injustice, the challenge daily of insuring the income covers the expenses, the accountability needed to be good stewards of our funds, insuring our programs provide quality services, but never boring, always challenging.
     “But oh what satisfaction and joy when the big and small problems work out, when income covers expenses, when our data reflects we made a difference, and most importantly when we support healing and hope for the human condition,” she said.
     “What better way to spend your time, energy, and talents. It has been a great, awesome, and humbling experience and one for which I shall forever be grateful.”
Raff’s longtime friend Jeanne Luckett of Luckett Communications served with her on many organization and agency boards aimed at improving the lives of Mississippians, particularly children.
     “Linda cares deeply about improving the human condition for the most vulnerable and defenseless of people,” said Luckett.
     “She is a quiet, smart, determined leader who works not for credit or the limelight but to see hard, often thankless tasks accomplished. She is an outspoken advocate for victims of violence, poverty, and injustice, and she radiates grace and beauty of spirit.
     “She is a generous, thoughtful friend, and is devoted to her family. She and Michael (husband) are both faith-filled models of what it means to live a life of service for others,” said Luckett.
     The Raffs also have a son, Matthew, 28, who is married to Ginger. Their daughter is Olivia.
     Though officially retired, Raff has been busy tying up loose ends. On Monday, after visiting the weekend with her elderly parents in Westpoint, she paid a visit to the Northeast Charities office in Vardaman.
     Even with retirement at hand, Raff has made no big plans to fill up her time.
“I have no specific plans other than to clean out our closets and work in the yard,” she said.
     After 29 years in the same house, Raff said “things” have accumulated.
     “My drawers are stuffed with family pictures that need attention. Also Michael and I share cooking so I think he would like to take a vacation from the kitchen for awhile. I want to spend time with my family and more specifically with my grandchildren.”
     “Years ago I enjoyed painting and watercolors. I plan to see if I still have that kind of creative energy. And I have enjoyed floral design for years and plan to continue serving on the flower guild for St. Peter’s,” Raff said.
     “I know at some point I will want to continue to be involved in Mississippi’s progress in improving the quality of life of all of our citizens. It should be frustrating to all Mississippians’ that we remain last in so many positive indicators.
     “I believe we must prioritize the needs of high risk families and children before we can see significant progress in moving our state off the bottom of the list of “all things good,” she said.
     Down in the Big Easy, Lauren Gehman is looking forward to her mother’s retirement.
     “My most favorite thing about her retirement is that she will be spending a lot of more time in New Orleans,” said Gehman.

TOP

HOME
Back to Diocesan News
Diocesan Archived News