Donald Hammond II

Branch of Service:

U.S. Army (National Guard)

Rank & Years of Service:

Enlisted for 7 years (SSG last enlisted rank held)
Commissioned for 11 years (Current CPT(P))
Total 18 years of service

Spouse & Children:

Spouse: Alicia Hammond
Children: Donald III (23), Darius (19) and Alana (15)

Religious Affiliation:

Believer in God

Hobbies:

Working out and spending time with family

Current Employment/Job Title:

Social Security Administration Human Resources Specialist

Additional Information:

2nd Generation Veteran as my father served 27 years in the Army Reserve

Deonte Barfield

Branch of Service:

U.S. Navy

Years of Service:

7 years, 8 months

Rank:

E5 Petty Officer Second Class/Hospital Corpsman

Children:

I have 3 daughters ages 25, 13 and 9

Religious Affiliation:

I attend World Overcomers Christian Church in Raleigh Triangle Park in North Carolina

Community Service

I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. where we believe in Service to All Mankind and servicing the community

Hobbies:

Baking, crafting, and spending time with family and friends

Current Employment/Job Title:

In my previous employment, I worked as a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist, assisting veterans with Significant Barriers to Employment and other resources. In my current employment, I am a Family Self Sufficiency Program Coordinator for our local Housing Authority.

Additional Information:

I earned my bachelor’s degree in social work from University of North Carolina-Wilmington and my master’s degree in social work from North Carolina Central University. My passion is to serve and help my fellow veterans in any capacity, especially those in hardship.

Alvin E. Jackson

Branch of Service:

Army Reserve

Rank and Years of Service:

E4, 6 years

Spouse and Children:

Wife: Birdele M. Jackson
Children: Alvontee J. Montford and AlDevin Jackson
Grandchildren: Kennedy Jackson and Kolton Montford

Church or Religious Affiliation:

• Mount Olive Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Community Service:

• Boys Mentoring Program
• Prince Hall Masonic Mason Fred Douglas Lodge #143
• God’s Children Too Program

Hobbies:

• Basketball
• Football
• Softball

Current Employment/Job Title:

• Retired from Weyerhaeuser Company as a Mechanical Technician Specialist
• Basketball and Softball Official

Additional Information:

• Chairman of the Steward Board – Mount Olive CME Church
• Member of the Trustee Board – Mount Olive CME Church
• Airborne Paratrooper & Airborne Parachute Rigger

Allen P. "Patch" Garcia

Branch of Service:

United States Air Force

Rank and Years of Service:

MSgt (E-7), Ret., 20 years

Spouse and Children:

Wife of 36 years: Tamara (Tammy) L. Garcia
Son: Allen P. Garcia (Current E-5 USAF)
Son: John T. Garcia (Former E-5 USAF)

Church or Religious Affiliation:

Stone Creek Baptist Church 1808, Dry Branch, Georgia

Community Service:

• Chaplain, Twiggs County Sheriffs Office
• Appalachia Backpack Ministry
• Samaritans Purse Shoe Box Ministry
• Prison Ministry
• Sunday School Director, Stone Creek Baptist Church
• Veteran's Smile Day at Family Dental Associates

Hobbies:

• Hunting
• Fishing
• Working around farm on tractor
• Traveling (Most recent trip was to Israel)
• Reading:
• History books as relates to the Bible
• Biblical scholars and their commentaries on the Bible

Current Employment/Job Title:

• Excel Dental Laboratory Inc., Manager
• Dental Laboratory Technician (37 yrs.)
• Certified Dental Laboratory Technician with National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology (NBC)
• Technologist Certification (NBC)

Any Additional Information:

Patch was born in Sumpter South Carolina to Jacqueline and Pete Garcia in 1964. He moved to the middle Ga. area in 1971 when his father was transferred to Robins Air Force Base. While attending Warner Robins High School, he met, for the first time, the future Mrs. Tammy Garcia. After graduating in 1983 he enlisted in the Air Force and left home for basic military training and received his first assignment located at Vandenberg AFB, California. In 1985 he married Tammy and they, over the course of their 37 years of marriage, have been blessed with two sons, Allen and Tyler, plus five wonderful grandchildren. Patch retired from the Air Force in 2003 and returned home to middle Ga. in 2010, settling down in Dry Branch Ga. In 2015 Patch received a call on his life, by the Lord, to ministry at the age of 51 and enrolled at Luther Rice College and Seminary. He completed his degree requirements and graduated May 2019 with a degree title of Bachelor of Arts in Religion.

Greg Rivers

Branch of Military

U. S. 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 Howard MMCM (Ret.)

Branch of Military

U. S. 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

U.S. Army

Rank & Years of Service

Sergeant, February 2003 to October 2011 (8 years)

Spouse & Children

Jennifer Cheshire and two children Abilyn and Kaylee Cheshire

Religious Affiliation

Central Baptist Church in Warner Robins and I am 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

Volunteers of America Southeast - Director of Homelessness and Prevention Services

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

Jeffery Patron Jones

Branch of Military:
U.S. Army

Rank & Years of Service:
E-4 (P) 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 information:
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:
U.S. Army

Rank & Years of Service:
E-7/ 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."

Tom Watson Padgett

Branch of Military:
U.S. Navy (Amphibians)

Rank & Years of Service:
Engineman 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:
U.S. Navy

Rank & Years of Service:
Petty Officer 3rd Class (Aviation Machinist Mate) / 1993–1997 (5 years of service)

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 well-being. 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