DALTON, Ga. — Marlene Jones remembers crying in a hallway of Cheerhaven, now Cross Plains Community Partner, which provides services for adults with developmental disabilities.

“An adult hit me across the head with a steel coffee cup,” she said. “I told myself then I’d only be here a year, but 34 years later I’m still here.”

Jones, a Dalton native, recently celebrated 35 years with the organization, “a private, nonprofit agency that supports and serves men and women with developmental disabilities and their families in northwest Georgia,” according to its website. Programs include day services, helping with skills for daily living, helping with access to the community and supported employment.

Jones has been the director of support services for 20 years. She said she has seen some improvements in the way people with developmental disabilities are treated. 

“For so long people saw individuals with disabilities as these poor little people,” she said. “In order for us to advance we needed the community to come together and see what we’re doing.”

“We have to educate the community, people still have a mentality about people with disabilities,” she said. “People don’t use the word ‘retarded’ as much. I don’t like that word at all.”

“The community (now) understands people we support here are just like anybody else,” she said. “We need to support individuals here the right way.”

A 1978 graduate of Dalton High School, Jones attended Clark College, now Clark Atlanta University, where she graduated in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. 

“When I moved back to Dalton in 1982 I substituted in schools,” she said. “I was in a classroom with kids with disabilities and behavior problems. I enjoyed working with them.”

Jones said in November of that year Cheerhaven had an opening for an instructional aide so she applied.

“I always think back to that time, it was God’s will to be where I am,” she said.

Jones said she’s held several positions, including instructional aide, assistant program manager and interim executive director. 

Aaron Marcelli, chief financial officer for Cross Plains, said Jones hired him 10 years ago.

“Marlene has a magnetic personality, always bringing people together and providing joy in the workplace,” he said.  “She also has the gift of managing conflict and being able to relate to any personality.”

Marcelli said Jones is knowledgeable in their field.

“She puts her heart into all the work she has done over the past 35 years,” he said.

Jones said one thing she’s always liked is encouraging the individuals that come to Cross Plains.

“Somebody had to encourage us, too, we didn’t come here being like we are, we were young and needed help,” she said.

Jones said the individuals at Cross Plains have inspired her over the years.

“We (employees) walk in here with our heads down like ‘poor me,’ then we see how happy they are and going on with their lives,” she said. “You think, ‘Oh, my goodness, it could be me using a wheelchair or not being able to speak.’”

Executive Director Deborah Conway said Jones brings “charisma and laughter” to Cross Plains.

“Marlene has seen progression and changes here,” she said. “She has history and I think it’s important to have that.”

Conway said she’s enjoyed working with Jones for 12 years.

Jones said she learned much from her late mother Gloria Hunt, who raised her and her twin sister Darlene Weaver alone.

“My mother expected so much from us,” Jones said. “We had no choice about going to school and working.”

She said they were also active in band, track and church activities.  

“She instilled so much in us, everything we started we had to finish,” Jones said.

Jones said those are some of the same values she and her husband Claude have instilled in their three children, Wesley, Keyana and Charmaine. The couple have been married 33 years. 

Jones said she’s blessed to have a calming spirit to help others. 

“It’s the joy of being able to encourage people to be just like you and I,” she said. “I want them (the individuals at Cross Plains) to have the same opportunities as everyone else.”