The Wilkes County Board of Health and the Wilkes Community Health Center Board unanimously appointed Rachel Willard, a Wilkes Health Department employee for over three years, as the new county health director and chief executive officer. The board of health and health center board of directors approved Mrs. Willard begin work as the new health director/chief executive officer on February 1, 2019.  Willard replaces the retiring Health Director Ann Absher, who will remain through January 31, 2019.  Mrs. Willard will be working alongside Mrs. Absher the next few months in order to ensure a smooth transition. Mrs. Willard, a Wilkes County resident. Mrs. Willard lives in the Mt. Pleasant Community with her husband David Willard and their two-year-old daughter.