Two months after retiring as the administrator of the Newport News Drug Treatment Court, John F. Haywood Jr. became the inaugural recipient of the Patty L. Gilbertson Excellence in Service Award.

“It was a great feeling. Patty Gilbertson was my boss for most of my employment. She passed away the year before I received the award,” Haywood said.

“She left an impressive legacy in the field of mental health and substance abuse services for the entire commonwealth of Virginia including establishing the drug treatment court in Newport News and Hampton. Her passionate leadership commanded attention across the state. For the selection committee to think of me in the same light was truly an honor.”

The award will be given each year to a Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board employee who exemplifies the essence of service to others and commitment to the mission of the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board. This award is dedicated to Gilbertson memory, a longtime employee and advocate for behavioral healthcare in the Commonwealth.

Haywood was nominated by his peers and a committee, representing the employees of the Board. The Board of Directors and the Consumer and Family Member Advisory Council made the final selection.

Haywood, a native of Williamsburg, Va., graduated from North Carolina A&T State University in 1970 with a degree in industrial education. After graduation, Haywood taught for one year and was drafted into the U.S. Army. He honorably served in the Vietnam War and earned an Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Expert Marksmanship badges.

After his time in the military and education, Haywood made the transition to working with people with drug addictions.

“I like to help people. Dealing with mental health and substance abuse clients there is always a challenge of getting folks to look at a different lifestyle that will lead to being around positive people,” he said.

He began his career with the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board as a social detox technician and a residential psychiatric technician at the CAPO Detoxification Center. Haywood also served as a substance abuse counselor on the Access Team and a program manager of the Detox/Transition Unit and Crisis Unit. For six years, he served as program manager of the Day Treatment Dual Diagnosis Program and Methadone Clinic and was later appointed administrator of the Newport News Drug Treatment Court – the position from which he retired in September.

Now that he’s retired, Haywood plans to spend his time volunteering in the community. He is currently working with the Newport News Sheriff’s Office as a part of the Mayor’s Council for Reentry for ex-inmates. Haywood also plans to work with a committee to develop an inpatient substance abuse program and as a board member for the Virginia Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors Association (VAADAC) and faculty and board member for the Virginia Summer Institute for Addiction Studies (VSIAS).

“I also like to cook and attend as many high school and college football and basketball games as I can,” he said. “I am involved in the A&T Williamsburg-Peninsula Alumni Chapter assisting the admissions office with college fairs in the area.”