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

Martha "Mert" Dorgan

Branch of Military:
U.S. Navy

Rank & Years of Service:
Commander (O-5)/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

Current Employment/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.

Ronald E. Johnson

Branch of Military:
U.S. ARMY Combat Infantryman

Rank & Years of Service:
Staff Sergeant (p) 15 years of service

Years of Service:
1980 – 1995

Spouse:
Mrs. Michelle Johnson (U.S. Navy Gulf War Veteran)

Children:
Ms. Sydney Price who attends Spelman College and Devon Proctor who attends West Laurens High School.

Religious Affiliation:
True believer in God.

Community Service:
VA2K Chairman, Food Bank volunteer, Board member of Bethel House Ministries, Coach

Hobbies:
Public Speaking, Teaching, Reading, Historian, Veteran Advocate

Current Employment/Job Title:
Lead Certified Peer Support Specialist - Carl Vinson VA Medical Center

Certifications and trainings include:
Graduate of Northside High School, Big Bend Community College, UNC School of Behavior Primary Leadership School, VET2VET Certified, Certified Peer Support Specialist, Respect Institute Graduate, WHAM (Whole Health Action Management), WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan), MHFA (Mental Health First Aid), SST (Social Skills Trained), W2SM (Warrior to Soul Mate Facilitator), OTM (Own The Moment Trainer)

Achievements:

• Men Who Made A Difference Award
• Clinical Employee of the Quarter
• WHO’S WHO Worldwide Honors
• Bronze Star Recipient Combat Infantryman Badge

Ron resides in Dublin, Georgia

Joseph D. Brothers Sr.

Branch of Military:
United States Air Force

Rank:
Chief Master Sergeant

Years of Service:
1960 – 1990

Spouse:
Minister Rebecca Brothers

Children:
Terri, Joseph Jr., Staci, Jeffrey and Tamisha plus many grands and great grands.

Current Employment/Job Title:
Retired and loving it!

Hobbies:
Taking care of family, staying in shape, walking, jogging, exercising and watching TV

Religious Affiliation:
Dorcas House Ministries (DHM), 223 A&B S. Commercial Circle; Warner Robins GA. Serving as treasurer and volunteer, assisting the DHM Executive Director, Minister Brothers, along with other volunteers providing clothing, food, assistance with utility bills and, most importantly, encouragement to and prayer for the needy.

Additional information:
Chief Brothers (Ret) joined the Air Force on 22 August 1960, along with neighborhood friends who along the way left the military for civilian life.

I decided early on to dedicate myself to the Air Force and federal service. With the help and support of my wife and grace and mercy of God, was able to complete not only a 30+ year military career, but also a 22+ year civil service career. I highly recommend military service.

Senator Johnny Isakson

Branch of Military:
Georgia Air National Guard

Rank and Years of Service:
Staff Sergeant; 1966 – 1972

Spouse and Children:
Dianne Davison Isakson; three children; eight grandchildren

Church/Religious Affiliation:
Mt. Zion United Methodist Church

Community Service:
The Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation; Shepherd Center

Hobbies:
Being with my family

Current Employment/Job Title:
U.S. Senator

Additional information:
Johnny is a successful businessman with 40-plus years in the real estate industry who has built a respected record of public service to Georgia and the nation.

Johnny holds the distinction of being the only Georgian ever to have been elected to the state House, state Senate, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. In addition, in 2016 he became the first Georgia Republican ever to be elected to a third term in the U.S. Senate.

For a third consecutive term, Johnny is chairman of both the Senate Ethics Committee and the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and he remains the only Republican in the Senate chairing two committees.

He also serves on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

I have served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs since 2015 and I’m also a member of American Legion Post 233 in Loganville, GA.

Michael Anthony Kelly

Branch:
United States Army

Rank:
Major

Years of Service:
1982-2017

Spouse/Children:
Wife, Janet and Son, Wyatt

Church:
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

Community Service:
Free counseling services by referral

Current Employment:
Regional Admissions Counselor at North Greenville University in Tigerville, SC

Hobbies:
Painting and antique clock repair

Sonya Richards White-SSG

Sonya is the oldest of her mother’s three children. She was born in Reading, PA and has been in Charleston, SC all of her life or since the age of 2. Sonya joined the Army National Guard at the age of 29. I thought I was not going to be able to compete. It has been 20 years and now I am embracing retirement.

During that time, I gave birth to Sierra Denise White; I only have the one child. She also had to make sacrifices for the choice I made to serve this state and country. I started out as a Medic and ended as a Logistician. I have participated in two deployments, three storms and the G8 Summit. If I had to do it all over again, I would not change a thing.

Now that my weekends are free and my vacation is not in uniform somewhere training in the heat, I just enjoy life. I engage in spending time with my daughter, worshiping at Greater Union Baptist Church, socializing and crocheting blankets for little bundles of joy.

My dream is to work with fellow Veterans that need a helping hand with maneuvering through this thing called life. I was blessed with that job as a Community Resource and Resiliency Coordinator at VECTR. I really enjoy what I do. Once my work is done, I pray that the Lord will put me where he sees fit.

Governor H. Henderson Jr.

Governor served 2 years in the United States Navy before his military career was cut short due to injury. Governor is happily married to his wife of 21 years and they have a 15 year old son. Governor and his family worship in a non-denominational setting to embrace the opportunities of diversity.

Governor and his wife spent the past 18 years in the Metropolitan Atlanta area but relocated to Michigan in 2017, and are continuing the quest to engage with diverse cultures while exposing their son to the same.

My hobbies include running, working out and swimming, when not spending quality time with the family. My current occupation is Director of Security for a major corporation in Michigan. Safety and security have been my passion for the past 24 years. After being medically discharged from the Navy, I wanted to continue in a career path which would give me an opportunity to serve and protect. During my public service career, I was afforded the opportunity to serve with the Georgia Department of Corrections, as a Correctional Officer, and elite Tactical Squad Member. I then went on to become a certified police officer, where I had the opportunity to serve the citizens of Macon, GA. While always looking for growth, I moved to the Metropolitan Atlanta Area, and served for the Henry County Police Department as a Narcotics Detective and for the Atlanta Police Department as a Burglary Specialist, General Investigator, and Sex Crimes Investigator. My valuable experience positioned me to serve in the capacity of an investigator for the District Attorney of Fulton County (GA) in the Crimes Against Women and Children's Unit before relocating. It was through the discipline and courage instilled in me by my military service, which allowed me to serve others for 24 years with pride and dignity.