Dwight Tuggle

Branch of Military:

U.S. Army

Rank & Years of Service:

Staff Sergeant / E-6, 20 years of service

Spouse & Children:

Spouse: Jeanette
Children: Karla, James, Jacob, Deborah and Dwight II

Religious Affiliation:

Apostolic Pentecostal

Hobbies:

Teaching bible lessons, collecting coins, working around the house, spending time with friends and family.

Current Employment/Job Title:

Currently Retired from the US Army and the U.S. Postal Service, Fayetteville, Ga

Additional Information:

2nd Generation U.S. Army Veteran, my father, Corporal David Tuggle, served in WWII

Served with the:

• 101 Airborne Division (Air Assault), HHT 2nd Squadron /17th Cavalry, Fort Campbell, KY
• Alfa Company, 97th Signal Battalion, Central Army Group (NATO), Manheim, Germany
• HHT 3rd Squadron / 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Bliss, TX
• Alfa Company, 32nd Signal Battalion, 22nd Signal Brigade, Frankfurt, Germany
• I Corp, Bravo Company, 502nd Military Intelligence Battalion
• I Corp, Charlie Company, 29th Signal Battalion, Fort Lewis, WA

Aided:

• 210th Field Artillery Brigade while at Fort Lewis, WA

Donald Hammond II

Branch of Military:

US 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 Military:

U.S. Navy

Rank & Years of Service:

E5 Petty Officer Second Class/Hospital Corpsman - 7 years, 8 months.

Family & Children:

I have 3 daughters 25, 13, 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:

My hobbies include baking, crafting, and spending time with family and friends.

Employment:

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 compacity, especially those in hardship.

Alvin E. Jackson

Branch of Military:

U.S. Army Reserve

Rank & Years of Service:

E4, 6 years

Spouse & Children:

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

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 Officia

Additional Information:

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

Allen P. "Patch" Garcia

Honduras Mission Trip to Orphanage Emmanuel 2017. Pictured from left to right: Allen P. Garcia, Tamara L. Garcia, and two of God's "fearfully and wonderfully made" children (Psalm 139:14).

Branch of Military:

United States Air Force

Rank & Years of Service:

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

Spouse & Children:

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

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)

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:

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.