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Citizen of the Year: Judith Hines, a quiet crusader
The most surprised person reading this article is probably its subject, Judith D. Hines, of Leesburg.Hines is extremely publicity shy even though she has worked for years on national, state and local levels to improve the lives of those with mental illness.
She manages to stay out of the spotlight while touching many lives at St. James United Church of Christ in Lovettsville and serving as president of the Friends of Loudoun Mental Health.
Hines even avoids publicity despite being one of the founders of the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
Despite her aversion for the spotlight, “Everybody knows Judy Hines,” said Tom Maynard, executive director of the Loudoun County Community Services Board. “People in Loudoun [know her]. People throughout Northern Virginia. The other CSBs. Those in state government.
“She is everywhere, and her tireless advocacy is evident to everybody. ... Because of her articulate, upbeat constructive advocacy, people listen. She makes sense. She’s trusted."
The Loudoun CSB runs community mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse programs. Hines served on the board from April 1985 to June 1992 and was its chair for the last two of those years.
In her quest to help the mentally ill, Hines helped found the Loudoun chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in 1983..
"I think [NAMI's Loudoun chapter] is the best thing that has happened,” said Nancy Merrill who -- with her husband Jim -- also helped start the Loudoun chapter of NAMI. Merrill's son Todd had schizophrenia and committed suicide.
“Judy has been tremendous,” Merrill said. “She has done more to help people understand mental illness than anyone else."
Merrill said two NAMI programs Hines has helped implement in Loudoun County are Family to Family, in which families of people with mental illness help other families; and In Their Own Voices, in which people who are ill are trained by NAMI to go out and talk about their illness to other people.
“She is absolutely hands-on,” Merrill said. "I think the In Their Own Voices has been terrific."
Hines also is president of Friends of Loudoun Mental Health, which runs programs that help pay rent and utility bills for people with mental illness.
"It helps people get unstuck, does whatever it takes to get them unstuck," said Ric Knight program director at Friendship House
Knight added that Hines’ husband, Taylor, plays no small role in his wife's projects. Judy also has two children: Nancy Hines, of Leesburg, and David Hines, of California.
“We all know that Taylor is that man behind the woman,” Knight said.
Another of Hines' passions is a free press.
Hines has been involved for years with the Freedom Forum, an organization whose Web site states it is dedicated to “free press, free speech and free spirit for all people.”
She also helped to found the Newseum, a museum about news that opened in 1996 and currently is in the process of moving from Arlington to Washington, D.C.
“I don't know anybody who has influenced the lives of more student journalists than Judy," said Charles Overby, president and chairman of the Freedom Forum and Newseum. "She has spent her life with a missionary-like zeal. She has spent her life teaching people about the importance of a free press."
Don Prange, minister of St. James United Church of Christ of Lovettsville, recalled his own history with Hines in the church.
“When we were planning such things as Faith and Life Forums on a variety of topics, Judy’s insights were always keeping us on target and giving direction in terms of the best possible ways to make a statement or to raise certain issues and concerns," Prange said. “And, as you well know, some of those topics and concerts were a bit controversial.”
Prange was referring to a play written by a young high school student a couple of years ago that stirred up the community because it dealt with homosexuality. Hines encouraged the church to throw its full support behind the young student and Equality Loudoun, an advocacy group for gay rights, by having the play presented at the church.
“When St. Paul wrote to the community of faith in Galatia and spoke of those who possess the fruits of the Spirit in terms of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” Prange said, "he had Judy Hines in mind."
In her own words
Judy Hines was told she was being interviewed for a article outlining the agencies available to those with mental illness. Her response was one of pure joy. She was also elated because the state has just taken real steps toward funding mental health-care improvements across Virginia.
Hines reported that the Task Force on the Commission on Mental Health Law Reform, which had been meeting since 2006, just released its findings.
"Gov. [Tim] Kaine bought [mental health funding]," said Hines. "He had intended to take it slow, sort of a business-as-usual approach, but then came Virginia Tech and everything was sped up."
Hines was referring to the April 16 tragedy at Virginia Tech in which 23-year-old Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people, injured at least 15 and took his own life.
She explained that she headed to that first meeting in Richmond with more than a little trepidation.
“I anticipated a negative approach at worst or a neutral acceptance at best,” Hines said. "Wrong! It was the most inspiring experience of my life other than giving birth to my children.
Hines was happy to learn last month that Gov. Kaine has called for $40 million to overhaul the mental health system.
“This is the only good thing that came from Virginia Tech,” she said.
Contact the writer at ecarlton@timespapers.com
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