Five Honored at Inaugural Recovery Court Graduation Dinner

HUNTINGDON (October 2) — Friends, family and members of the 24th Judicial District Court gathered at the Colonial Tea Room in Huntingdon Thursday, October 2, to celebrate five recent graduates from the 24th Judicial District Recovery Court: Nicole Compton, Hannah Hollingsworth, Elijah Howard, Jefferson Mills and Herbert Strayhorn. The banquet-style celebration was the first of its kind, giving the five graduates a formal celebration of their hard work reaching sobriety.

The 24th Judicial District — which includes Benton, Carroll, Decatur, Henry and Hardin counties — began its Recovery Court program in May 2023. The program, which lasts 18-24 months, is meant to provide those who have been arrested for drug offenses with sufficient tools to help them live a sober life.

The Recovery Court program begins with at least 90 days in jail, followed by 90 days of an inpatient program. For the next six months, offenders enter an intensive outpatient setting. Before leaving the program, the Recovery Court team makes sure those without high school diplomas earn a GED and those without a driver’s license are in the process of getting one.

“Not everyone belongs in prison,” said Carroll County Division One Circuit Judge Brent Bradberry, “and we recognize that addiction sometimes results in people making bad choices.”

In recognition of their graduation and achieving hundreds of days sober and hundreds of days without committing a crime or getting into any sort of trouble that would violate their probation, Judge Bradberry granted the five honored graduates with 600 days of jail credit towards their sentences.

“You know how difficult it’s going to be,” Bradberry said, “to continue to live that sober life. We hope we’ve given you tools. We hope we’ve given you methods to cope with that. We certainly wish you the most success.”

The five honorees were from Carroll, Benton and Henry counties. They each graduated from Recovery Court in ceremonies held earlier this year.

Nicole Compton, of Benton County, brought her son with her to the dinner. She maintained employment and was successful throughout the Recovery Court program.

“I’m just glad that I made it through,” said Compton. “It’s made a big impact on my life.”

Hannah Hollingsworth, a 2010 graduate of Carroll Academy, also completed Recovery Court. Hollingsworth was one of the women covered in The New York Times’ article on Carroll Academy’s girls’ basketball team. During the Recovery Court process, The New York Times reached out to Hollingsworth once more for an update to the initial story.

“Life has been so amazing since I’ve graduated. There’s so many opportunities that came my way. I have a job. I have never been able to keep a job longer than two months,” Hollingsworth said in a brief speech.

Hollingsworth thanked Labe Ezell, the officer who made the arrest that led her to Recovery Court. “I know it’s crazy to say, but thank you. You saved me,” she said.

Elijah Howard, of Carroll County, first came into the Recovery Court program with a baby on the way. That baby turns two years old in November, and Howard has been sober for the entirety of her life.

Howard recalled when his probation officer helped him and bought diapers for his daughter when she was first born. “I look back, and I’m blessed,” he said, “because I can afford to do stuff now. It’s from working, from the people who have been there for me and helped me, who have always encouraged me to do better and do the right things. I’m appreciative and grateful. Thank you.”

Jefferson Mills, of Benton County, began a job as a painter soon after joining Recovery Court. Soon, he will celebrate his two-year anniversary as a house painter. Mills passed all of his drug screens the entirety of Recovery Court.

“I’m very grateful that this program is put in place. It’s gonna save the lives of many people,” Mills said, “and change the lives of many people. It’s changed all of our lives. My life has done a 180 completely. This is the longest I’ve ever been clean and sober. This accountability was put here by God, in my book, and I’m very, very blessed.”

Lastly, Judge Bradberry described Herbert Strayhorn as the poster child of the Recovery Court program. During his time in Recovery Court, Strayhorn obtained a driver’s license after not having one for 30 years.

Strayhorn thanked his many supporters who showed up for him both at the dinner and during his time in Recovery Court.

The 24th Judicial District Recovery Court will host another dinner celebration for recent Recovery Court graduates from Decatur and Hardin counties in Savannah, Tenn., later in October.