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REIDSVILLE — Back in 1981, William C. “Willie” Hairston often worked out with another man at the Reidsville YMCA.

As their muscles developed, so did their friendship.

One day Hairston’s friend surprised him by asking if he was interested in becoming a police officer.

“At the time, I didn’t even realize he was a police officer,” Hairston said of former Reidsville police Chief James Festerman.

Hairston, a third-shift electrician at the Edna Plant of Cone Mills, asked what the requirements were, and Festerman invited him to tour the department and learn more.

“It is hard to believe it has been 30 years since I talked you into becoming a part of the Reidsville police force,” Festerman, now mayor of Reidsville, wrote in a letter to Hairston. The letter was read Aug. 5 at a retirement dinner for Hairston at Pennrose Park Country Club. Festerman was unable to attend.

“Your strong moral fiber and steadfastness were among the reasons I actively recruited you. ... I knew then, as others know now, that your dedication and strong work ethic would help you excel in the department.”

For about 18 months, Hairston walked a beat in downtown Reidsville. Downtown was thriving, and Hairston knew the owners and most employees on a first-name basis.

Market Street businesses were open as well, so Hairston walked about a four-square-block beat.

Hairston has worked for four chiefs: Gatha Huskey, Festerman, Matt Loyko and Edd Hunt.

Five years after joining the department, Hairston was promoted to sergeant. He also became a DARE officer and taught the program for seven years. He was promoted to community policing lieutenant and began teaching DARE full time.

“Willie has touched the lives and hearts of so many people during his career,” Hunt said at the dinner. “He was a passionate, humble mentor to young people.”

Hairston will return to the department as the DARE teacher shortly after school starts, Hunt said.

Festerman started the Neighborhood Watch Program in the city. Hairston took over the program and developed it to include 53 Neighorhood Watch efforts.  As a result, Hairston got to know many Reidsville residents, from elementary students to senior citizens.

“It has been a tremendous help to me because it has been a partnership,” he said. “I have always said there is no way the police department can do its job effectively without citizens partnering with the department.”

In 2002, Hunt asked Hairston to start a bike program. Hairston and several officers rode bikes on patrol downtown as well as in neighborhoods where police visibility was needed.

Hunt also asked Hairston to start a Summer Youth Academy for at-risk youngsters.

“We picked them up and carried them back home,” Hairston said. “We got them involved in a lot of positive activities.”

Graduating from the National FBI Academy in 1993 gave him “in-depth knowledge of administrative duties,” Hairston said. “It has been a tremendous help to me as a police captain,” a rank to which he was promoted in 2000.

A native of Reidsville, Hairston attended Moss Street School and graduated in 1978 from Reidsville High School .

At Rockingham Community College, he studied electrical installation and electronics and was hired at Cone Mills in 1980.

After graduating from high school, Hairston met Clarissa Pickard, also a native of Reidsville. They will mark their 27th wedding anniversary in October. They still live in the North Scales Street home where Hairston grew up.

They have two sons, William Jr., a junior at Elon University, and James, a freshman at UNC-Charlotte.

Active in church all his life, Hairston became an associate minister at Elm Grove Baptist Church  in 1985.

In 1992, he graduated with a degree in religion and philosophy from Shaw University. The next year, he became pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Ruffin.

After his retirement, Hairston  plans to  continue to serve  Rockingham County.

 “So many of you here tonight gave me an opportunity,” he said at the end of the dinner. “You believed in me. All I wanted was just a chance to show that I could do it.

“As long as I live, I am going to stay in this community.”

Ann Fish is a Reidsville native but has lived in Eden since 1979. She is a retired newspaper editor and reporter. Contact her at annsomersfish@yahoo.com.