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Wlaf1450Jo Bruce honored by LaFollette and ADFAC for volunteer efforts
A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- “Community Volunteer and leader” Jo Bruce was honored on Thursday morning with a proclamation by the City of LaFollette as the recipient of the Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award. She was recognized with a similar proclamation by county commissioners last month for her life-long commitment to helping children and families. Thursday was also proclaimed as “Jo Bruce Day” in LaFollette.
Bruce was honored by ADFAC with an Award ceremony on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Oak Ridge.
“This was a very kind thing to do. My family is very appreciative,” Jo Bruce said after Thursday’s proclamation was read. Bruce will be retiring at the end of the school year.
According to the ADFAC Bruce was nominated and selected by the Bow Tie committee and “truly represents the spirit behind the Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award.”
When choosing the annual Bow Tie winner, ADFAC looks at the following criteria:
• Someone who has similar values to Bill Wilcox
• Someone who has been or is currently involved with ADFAC
• Someone who has or is living a meaningful life by working to do good for others in unique selfless ways
• Someone who has been or is currently active in our community
• Someone whose actions have created positive local impact throughout the East TN region
Work History & Passion for Families & Children:
Jo Bruce is celebrating 31 years as the Director of the Oak Ridge Schools Family Resource Center in Oak Ridge. It is one of the original 13 Family Resource Centers established by the State of Tennessee in the fall of 1993 and Bruce has held the position since the inception of the program.
In this role, she has “focused and established an extensive knowledge of the many resources for family and children to help them access as many resources as possible.”
Prior to working in Oak Ridge, Bruce began her career with the State of Tennessee Department of Human Services (now the Department of Children’s Services) as a case manager. Her work included investigations, court interactions, placements into foster care and reunification of children and families as well as managing foster care home and adoption services. She worked in education both as a preschool teacher in Mississippi and as a parent educator for Campbell County Schools in Tennessee.
As a student herself, she has received extensive training in the areas of the effects of poverty on development and learning the rewards of quality parent engagement and thus has been a presenter at the state and local levels on these topics.
School safety along with trauma recovery is a priority for Bruce, and with her experience, she has presented on this topic at both state and national levels, working with dedication on the SAVE (Schools Against Violence in Education) Act to put policies and procedures in place to help keep children and school staff safe.
Her commitment to community doesn’t end with her professional position. She has served countless years on area nonprofit boards including ADFAC, United Way, Children’s Advocacy Network, Emory Valley Center, TORCH, Blossom Center, DCS CAB & YWCA.
Bruce is an inspiring community leader, advocate for children & families, a lover of her family and truly is “Lighting the Way” for all who meet her.
Personal Information:
Jo Bruce was born January 14, 1956, to Ray & Maxine Bramlett in Jasper, Tennessee, where she was raised with an older brother, Larry.
Graduating 4th in her class from Marion County High School in 1974, Jo then continued her education at MTSU on a full scholarship, graduating with a dual major of social work and psychology and a minor in criminal justice in 1978. During college, she met the love of her life, Ken Bruce, at a Delta Tau Delta party. Ken was the President of the MTSU chapter of Delta Tau Delta and Jo was honored to become the Princess of the fraternity’s Little Sisters.
Jo and Ken were married June 23, 1979, at Falling Waters Baptist Church in Hixon, Tennessee. Their marriage and Ken’s U.S. Army career carried them to many ‘homes’ around the world including Tracy City, Tennessee, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Bremerhaven, Germany, Fort Riley, Kansas, Osterholz-Scharmbec, West Germany, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Ole Miss ROTC, Oxford, Mississippi, with some short tours to West Point, New York, San Antonio, Texas, and Charleston, South Carolina. They enjoyed travelling throughout Europe including West Germany, East Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, France and The Netherlands. Jo and Ken welcomed two sons, Christopher Scott in 1980 and Patrick Alan in 1984. Chris is married to Tiffany Johnson and Patrick is married to Sheryl Hunt. Jo dotes on and enjoys her grandchildren Ainsley, Brynn, William, & Kenneth.
Today, Jo, widowed in 2005, lives in LaFollette and is an active member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, where she has served on Parish Council, Social Justice Committee and taught confirmation classes as well as shared her beautiful voice as a soloist in the choir.
She is an avid reader and a gifted storyteller. She cherishes her family, spending many vacations with them camping and visiting the beach.
Amongst other accolades, she has been recognized with the following: Patriotic Civilian Service Award, United Way Starfish Award, ADFAC Silent Hero Award, and many school related awards and acknowledgments at local and state levels.
Jo Bruce is a ‘light’ to the children and families in our community, region and state and her ‘light’ shines to guide others to prioritize children so they can succeed, feel secure, be educated, and be safe.
ADFAC is honored to recognize Jo Bruce – “Lighting the Way” as the 2025 Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Awardee.
Previous awardees include:
Ray Smith, Tim Myrick, Cande Seay, Bear Stephenson, Tom Row, Kathy Stimpson (posthumously), Louise Mixon, Bill Capshaw, Tom Beehan, Jim Dodson, Pat Postma, Barry Stephenson and Jim & Sheila Michel.
A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.
For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini at ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-11/10/2025-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)