The Augusta Commission has selected an experienced recreation director from the Columbia, S.C., area to head Augusta Recreation and Parks.
The commission voted Tuesday to hire Tameka Dillard Williams, who most recently served as deputy director for the Richland County, S.C., Recreation Commission for six years.
Commissioner Sean Frantom nominated Williams for the position out of at least three finalists, the names of whom The Augusta Press has requested. Local governments are required by state law to release documents identifying at least three finalists for any agency head position.
The commission vote was 9-0 to hire Williams, with commissioners Alvin Mason and Brandon Garrett absent.
Williams’ certifications include being a certified parks and recreation professional and a certified youth sports administrator, according to her resume.
Augusta’s position has been headed on an interim basis by Deputy Administrator Charles Jackson since February, when embattled former director Maurice McDowell resigned.
Williams is familiar with the interim role, having spent about 20 months as interim executive director for the Richland County Recreation Commission, from February 2022 to November 2023.
While not serving as interim, Williams spent almost six years as its deputy director, including from September 2019 to February 2022 and November 2023 to February 2024, when her employment with Richland ended, according to her application.
The Richland commission oversees dozens of parks and facilities and operates after-school, summer camp, adult, senior, aquatics and athletics programs. It has a foundation which raises money to help support its programs and also has the ability to levy taxes.
Williams, who has a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice with a minor in art from Virginia Union University in Richmond, Va., previously spent 20 years with the City of Suffolk, Va., Parks and Recreation department.
