"I mean, some of these guys want us to be a McDonald's and want to order cheeseburgers and french fries any time they want. Some of the others are angry we don't fix steaks. But most of the inmates like what we do."
And so does the staff.
"Madge is an excellent cook. I can't say enough about the meals she's made. They're all good," said Chief Deputy Sue Denham. "She could be working at any number of really good restaurants. We're lucky to have her."
The Danville native, who is the widow of Allen Harlow and mother of a son from a previous marriage, Ferrell Bailey, said she feels lucky to be at the jail. She said she enjoyed her nearly four decades at the ABC Grill and 10 years working at a local factory but, believe it or not, jail has been her favorite workplace.
"I've liked the people I've worked with and the jailers I've worked for, and that includes Sherman Camden, Mickey Harmon, Chris Hill and now Barry Harmon. But I've also come to like a lot of the inmates, especially the ones who've worked for me. A lot of them have been very hard-working and also fun to work with."
