Greg Rivers

Branch of Military:

United States Army

Rank & Years of Service:

SFC. 2 years Army and 22 Army Reserve and National Guards

Spouse & Children:

Wife-Joan Rivers, children-Marcus and Crystal

Religious Affiliation:

Beulahland Bible Church and Bethel CME

Community Service:

Member of The Historical Awards Committee Organization and Faith Over Fifty Ministry

Hobbies:

Sports, swimming, Zumba, and family research

Current Employment/Job Title:

Retired football, basketball and track coach

Additional Information:

Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Life Time Member Fort Valley State University Alumni, and Big Red One Society

Alton Alexander Howard MMCM (Retired)

Branch of Military:

United States Navy

Years of Service:

1979 – 2002

Religious Affiliation:

Feed Center Family Worship Center

Community Service:

Feed Center Outreach Ministry

Hobbies:

Basketball, Football, and helping in the community

Additional Information:

Member of Kappa Lambda Chi Military Fraternity, Inc. Warner Robins Football Officials Group, Peach Sports Authority and Tournament Director for Global Sports Authority.

Chad Cheshire

Branch of Military:

United States Army

Rank:

Sergeant

Years of Service:

February 2003 – October 2011

Spouse & Children:

Spouse, Jennifer Cheshire, and two children, Abilyn and Kaylee Cheshire

Religious Affiliation:

• Central Baptist Church Warner Robins
• Also a Minister with Volunteers of America's church

Community Service:

• Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, Georgia's Department of Community Affairs Balance of State Continuum of Care
• President of the Houston County Human Needs Coalition

Current Employment/Job Title:

Employed by Volunteers of America Southeast, Director of Homelessness and Prevention Services

Jeffery Patron Jones

Branch of Military:

United States Army

Rank:

E-4

Years of Service:

10 Years of Service

Spouse & Children:

Wife: Cynthia Jones
Children: Jamila, Chanell, Jalil, & Jahmeka

Religious Affiliation:

New Generational Beginning Ministries

Community Service:

Mentor for at-risk youth, Community Food Program and Recovery Advocate.

Hobbies:

Collecting African Artwork, Reading History Books, Houseplants and Cooking

Current Employment/Job Title:

Certified Peer Support Specialist - Carl Vinson VA Medical Center
Program Director - New Beginnings Recovery Homes for Men

Fraternal Affiliation:

Prince Hall Mason, Hatoff # 409 Masonic Lodge
Prince Hall Shriner, Masab Temple #11, Desert of Georgia, Oasis of Macon

Antorius M. Merritt Sr.

Branch of Military:

United States Army

Rank:

E-7

Years of Service:

22 Years of Service

Spouse & Children:

Wife: Lakisha D. Merritt, 4 children and 1 grandchild. Son, Antorius M. Merritt Jr, Daughters: Chanteria S. Merritt, Charnae C. Merritt, Na'Liyah D. Merritt. Grandson: Bradley H. Gordon.

Religious Affiliation:

We attend church at Lundy Chapel Baptist Church

Community Service:

I am part of Macon Chapter Black Sabbath Motorcycle Club so I have the pleasure to participate in several events in the community. Once a month we feed the homeless and we also do charity toy drives yearly.

Hobbies:

Weightlifting and riding motorcycles

Current Employment/Job Title:

Retired

Additional Information:

My wife Lakisha and I moved to Macon after she got a promotion with her job about 7 years ago. So now we are enjoying the Middle Georgia area.

Jessica A. Parker

Technical Sergeant Jessica A. Parker was a Medical Administrative Clerk for the 94th Tactical Airlift wing at Dobbins AFRB Marietta GA. She was responsible for maintaining and monitoring the random Drug Testing for the Air Force Reserve Units. She was responsible for maintaining and filing medical records. She was a Social Actions Technician Drug and Alcohol Abuse Technician.

Prior to this assignment TSgt Parker was an Admin Clerk in the 94th Combat Support Group, maintaining records for the unit.

TSgt Parker graduated from Jonesboro High School in 1974. This was the first year they offered Air Force ROTC for girls.

EDUCATION

• 1974 Jonesboro High School
• 1974 Clayton Jr College
• 1989 Associate Degree St Leo College
• 1991 Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice St Leo College

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
• Meritorious Unit Award
• Air Force Achievement Medal
• Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon

Tom Watson Padgett

Branch of Military:

United States Navy (Amphibians)

Rank:

Engineman

Years of Service:

4 years active and 4 years inactive

Spouse & Children:

Tom has been married to Veronica M. Padgett for 61 years and they do not have any children.

Religious Affiliation:

Byron United Methodist Church

Hobbies:

Camping and Nascar

Current Employment/Job Title:

Retired

Additional Information:

Tom and Veronica moved to Georgia from Tampa, FL after Thatcher Glass went bankrupt after 14 years of service. Tom retired from Anchor Glass and worked at the Go Fish Education Center in Perry, GA until he became disabled.

Dwayne S. Ward

Branch of Military:

United States Navy                

Rank:

Petty Officer 3rd Class (Aviation Machinist Mate)

Years of Service:

5 years (1993–1997)

Spouse & Children:

Three awesome kids Logan 18, Tristyn 16 and Sage 13. You will see my girlfriend Becky running with me often!

Religious Affiliation:

Methodist

Community Service:

RWB Member, very involved with the Jones County High School Long Distance Running team.

Hobbies:

Training for racing events, body weight workouts, heavy bag work, spending time with my kids.

Current Employment/Job Title:

Robins AFB / Maintenance Repair and Overhaul IT Technical Solution Lead. Dwayne is also the owner of Gallant Fellows Beard Grooming Products and LTS Beauty Supply, both family businesses with my children and brother.

Additional Information:

Third generation Veteran and 2nd generation Sailor Veteran as my father before me!

A good portion of my time is training for races; I have discussed with several other Veterans the importance of physical activity. My main goal running is not actually physical but mental wellbeing. The SEGAMI races mean a lot to me, it is my favorite race to attend and the one I train for the hardest.

2017 SEGAMI Half 1:55:48
2018 SEGAMI Half 1:54:28 (Half-overall PR)
2019 SEGAMI 5K 25:41 Veterans Division Overall Winner

Martha "Mert" Dorgan

Branch of Military:

United States Navy

Rank:

Commander (O-5)

Years of Service:

20 years

Spouse & Children:

Mert is not married and does not have any children but she has a black cat named Kommander.

Religious Affiliation:

Methodist

Community Service:

Volunteer as a UGA certified Georgia Master Gardener and with Team RWB (Red, White & Blue)

Hobbies:

Running and being Ms. Fix-It

Job Title:

Fully Retired

Additional Information:

Mert was commissioned via the NROTC Program at Villanova University and served as an aircraft maintenance officer.  Serving in the world's greatest Navy with wonderfully professional shipmates remains one of the highlights of her life.

Mert is also the 2017 & 2018 SEGAMI Half Marathon Top Female Senior Division Winner.

John H. Simmons, Jr.

Branch of Military:

United States Air Force                   

Rank:

Retired Major

Years of Service:

August 19, 1970 – September 1, 1990

Spouse & Children:

Spouse – Jenett (Married in May 1970)
Children – John III and Sebrenia

Religious Affiliation:

Williams Chapel AME in Forsyth, GA

Community Service:

• Sponsor Community Garden (Fort Valley State University)
• Prepare food for Freshmen Day (Fort Valley State University)
• Local Feed Program in Fort Valley, GA
• President of Macon-Bibb Alumni Chapter (FVSU)

Hobbies:

Enjoy fishing, listening to music, traveling and l love to see plants grow

Additional Information:

Major Simmons was stationed in Japan; Laredo, TX; Tampa, FL; England; Minot, ND; Plattsburgh, NY; Turkey and the Netherlands.

Major Simmons also attended Fort Valley State University, where he majored in Social Science Secondary Education and minored in Library Science

James E. Brown

James Edward Brown was born November 12, 1948 in Quitman, Georgia to the late Mr. and Mrs. Prince Wesley and Willie Mae Brown who lived on a farm in Dixie, Georgia. He was the fourth oldest child of ten siblings. He received his early education from Crossroad Elementary School, completing grades first through fifth. After being promoted to the sixth grade, he was bused from his home near Crossroad School in Dixie, Georgia to Simmon Hill School where he completed grades sixth through eighth. Following the completion of these grades, he continued on to High School, attending Washington Street High, Quitman, Georgia, where he completed grades ninth through twelfth, graduating May, 1966.

In September of 1966, he enrolled at Fort Valley State University (FVSU), where he majored in Agronomy, field crop production study in Agriculture. While at FVSU, he met his late wife, Mazie Louise (Roper) Brown who departed this life July 29, 2021 after 51 years of marriage. They gave birth to three children, two daughters, Wysteria and Candace, and one son, James E. Brown, II, who was born prematurely and lived only a few hours after birth.

After receiving his BS degree at Fvsu ·fn 1970, James immediately entered graduate school at Tuskegee University (TU), majoring in Soil Chemistry, where he completed one year of graduate school before being drafted into the U.S. Army. After completing three years of military obligation, he returned to TU, August, 1974, where he continued his education and received his MS degree in Agriculture. Also, during this time while at TU, James joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corp (ROTC) and retired from the military at the rank of Major after 20 years of service.

Upon the completion of his educational requirements at TU in August, 1975, James immediately accepted a job with the Tennessee Valley Authority as a botanist, where he worked in Knoxville, Tennessee area for 5 years before accepting a research assistantship at the University of Illinois (UI), January 1981. At UI, James received his Ph.D. degree in the area of horticulture in May, 1983. Shortly after receiving his degree, Dr. Brown accepted a job at TU, where he worked as a Horticultural Extension Specialist for one and one-half years before accepting a job as an assistant professor of horticulture at Auburn University (AU), Auburn, Alabama, beginning January 1985. Dr. Brown spent twenty-five years of service at AU, earning the rank of full professor before retiring in August 2009. During this time at AU, Dr. Brown published 9 books, several book chapters, and more than 240 other publications, to include 42 refereed journal articles along with other significant publications. He also developed two elective courses and wrote two horticulture books, entitled Organic Gardening: Vegetable Growing in Simple Terms, and Vegetable Production: Vegetable Growing in Simple Terms. He used these two books to teach his two courses. Between these two courses among others, he taught as much as 3,500 students per semester for a period of 15 years. Dr. Brown's Organic Gardening course work was placed in the Archives of the Auburn University Library during the year 2009. Upon his departure, Dr. Brown was honored as Emeritus Professor of AU by the President and Board of Trustees, effective March, 2010.

Shortly after his retirement from AU in August of 2009, Dr. Brown immediately accepted a position at Fort Valley State University as Professor Emeritus of Horticulture and Interim Assistant Dean of Academic Programs. He served in this position for a period of six years before being assigned to the position of Professor Emeritus and Interim Program Leader of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cooperative Extension Program, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology. During his time at FVSU, Dr. Brown developed and taught three courses in the college of agriculture, established a USDA Certified 20- acre Organic Fruit, Vegetable, and Animal Production Farm on one of FVSU's Farm Sites. Also, he established other community fruit and vegetable sites in several cities in the state of Georgia as follows: Macon, Sylvester, and Columbus.

Additionally, Dr. Brown has earned significant honors and has made several contributi"ons during his life time as follows: President, American Society for Plasticulture, a Scientific Research Society (1991-1993}; Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society (1982); Alpha Zeta Agricultural Honor Society {1993}; Auburn Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award (2003}; Dean's award for Teaching Excellence, College of Agriculture, Auburn University (2006); Chi Gamma Iota, Veterans Scholastic Honor Society {1983); Several Outstanding Professor Awards, Auburn University Panhellenic Council {2002-2004); Outstanding Faculty Award, Auburn University, Baptist Student Union (2003}; Gamma Sigma Delta, The Honor Society of Agriculture (1983}; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Dr. Brown also pastored two churches, Community Missionary Baptist, and Cornerstone Missionary Baptist (he and his late wife, Mazie, were founders of this church), respectively, of Opelika, Alabama, for more than 25 years. Dr. Brown presently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, 1386 Threepine Place, S.W. Lilburn, Georgia 30047.

Woodie Hughes Jr.

Branch of Military:

Illinois Army National Guard

Rank:

E-4

Years of Service:

8 years of service from November 8, 1988 to November 8, 1996.

Spouse & Children:

Mrs. Tonya Hughes (Wife of 22 years), one son (14) and one daughter (20).

Church & Religious Affiliations:

Christian, Children of the Most High, Pristine Youth and Family Solutions, LLC. https://childrenofthemosthigh.com/

Community Service:

4-H Village Community Garden Outdoor Laboratory of Learning, EPA Environmental Social Justice 4-H Community Service. Located in Sylvester, Georgia, in Worth County.

Hobbies:

Studying the Doctrine of The Most High Heavenly Father (KJV John 7:16). Spending quality uninterrupted time with family members, spending quality uninterrupted time in silence for my own overall health and well-being, work-life balance, working out, writing, teaching, watching movies, bowling and shooting pool in Chicago, and watching favorite TV shows.

Current Employment/Job Title:

Assistant Extension Administrator 4-H Program Leader Fort Valley State University, College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology Cooperative Extension Program.

Additional information:

Mr. Hughes parents, Mrs. Annette Hughes (Mom) and Mr. Woodie Hughes Sr. (Dad) have been happily married for 52 years! Growing up on the westside of Chicago, in a household with two loving, married parents who love God and who instilled in me Godly love of family and obedience to God’s commandments; are the foundation of all the most important developmental experiences that I have had in my life that have led to me becoming the person that I am today. Some of the other more important developmental experiences that I have had in my life, were: accepting the Messiah Jesus as my Savior, being the elder brother of my two younger brothers, Nathan and David, always being surrounded by loving family members and true friends, marrying Mrs. Tonya Hughes and raising our children under one roof together through love! Mr. Hughes served 8 years with the Illinois Army National Guard and received an U.S. Army Honorable Discharge. Mr. Woodie Hughes Jr. only wants to do God’s Will above everything else! Mr. Hughes is in the Body of Christ!