Meet The 2024 Candidates
Election of Officers will take place on the third day of our 124th Annual Session, scheduled for October 17-19, 2024, at Connors Temple Baptist Church.
Moderator
Pastor Andre J. Osborne (I)
Moderator Candidate, Parent Body
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Pastor/Teacher, First Tabernacle Baptist Church
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Southern Regional Vice-President, General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia
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Incumbent (Interim) Moderator, Berean Missionary Baptist Association (2021-Present)​​​​​
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Former 1st Vice Moderator, Berean Missionary Baptist Association (Hall Administration)
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Former 2nd Vice Moderator, Berean Missionary Baptist Association (Williams Administration)
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Team Co-Chair, Coastal Resilient Georgia Grant Task-force to establish mental health "healing communities" in counties along the Georgia coast.
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Board of Directors Member Faith Works, a grassroots 501c4 aimed at voter education and mobilization in the state of Georgia
Pastor Timothy M. Sheppard
Moderator Candidate, Parent Body
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Pastor, Central Baptist Church of Thunderbolt (24 years)
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Current Congress President (15 years to present), Berean Missionary Baptist Association
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Past Congress Vice President, Berean Missionary Baptist Association
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Certified Instructor, Sunday School Publishing Board
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Christian Education Instructor, Several Local Christian Leadership Schools
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Member, Berean Missionary Baptist Association (24 years)
1st Vice Moderator
Reverend Thomas Williams (I)
Unopposed 1st Vice Moderator Candidate, Parent Body
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Pastor Emeritus, First African Baptist Church of East Savannah
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Incumbent (Interim) 1st Vice Moderator, Berean Missionary Baptist Association
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Former 2nd Vice Moderator, Berean Missionary Baptist Association (Under Hall Administration)
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Veteran, US Army, Air National Guard, 283rd Combat Communication Squadron
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First and Former President, Savannah State Wesleyan Gospel Choir
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Former President, SSC (now SSU) Student Government Association
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Member, Savannah Baptist Ministers Alliance, Savannah Interdenominational Ministers Alliance, American Legion Post 500, the Georgia Retired Educators Association
2nd Vice Moderator
Reverend Barbara Simmons (I)
2nd Vice Moderator Candidate, Parent Body
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Associate Minister, Central Baptist Church of Old Fort
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Youth Advisor, Berean Youth Department
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1st Vice President, Berean Women's Auxiliary
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Incumbent (Interim) 2nd Vice Moderator, Berean Missionary Baptist Association
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Served in New Era Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia and General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia
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Member, Berean Missionary Baptist Association (38 years)
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Teacher, Berean Congress of Christian Education
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Works with Legacy Ralph Mark Gilbert Foundation, Sickle Cell Association of Savannah, Greenbriar Children's Center, Community Outreach Ministry, Helping Hands Outreach from Heaven Prayer Ministry
Pastor Michael Smith
2nd Vice Moderator Candidate, Parent Body
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Pastor, First Mount Bethel Baptist Church (2016 - present)
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Congress President, General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, 1st District
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Certified Instructor, Sunday School Publishing Board
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Certified Dean, Savannah's Dean Alliance​​​​​
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Former Assistant Pastor, Greater Mount Triumph Baptist Church, Atmore, Alabama (4 years)
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Former Pastor, New Hope Primitive Baptist Church, Molino, Florida (13 years)
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Former President, Congress of Christian Education of the Mount Zion-South Alabama District
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Served as State Auditor, Florida State Primitive Baptist Convention
Secretary
Sister Antoinette Ellis Ward
Unopposed Secretary Candidate, Parent Body
​Berean Church Affiliation
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Historic First African Baptist Church - Franklin Square (14 years)
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Youth Ministry Coordinator
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Music Ministry - Praise Team and Choir
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Tourism and Archives Teams
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Professional Experience
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Educator (20 years experience)
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Professional Tutor, Certified Teacher, Career Skills Instructor, Student Success Coach
Additional Information
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Berean Congress Secretary (2017-current)
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Regular participation in Berean and GMBC Congress sessions for over 10 years
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Chaperone, Instructor, Assistant Instructor
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Clerk
Sister Sheila Arkwright (I)
Unopposed Clerk Candidate, Parent Body
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Member, Second Arnold Baptist Church
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Incumbent (Interim) Clerk, Berean Missionary Baptist Association
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Current Youth Worker, General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia Congress of Christian Education
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Current Youth Electives Worker, Berean Missionary Baptist Association Congress of Christian Education
Treasurer
Pastor Roemain Bennett
Unopposed Treasurer Candidate, Parent Body
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Pastor, First Smyrna Baptist Church
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Certified Instructor, Sunday School Publishing Board
Women's Auxiliary President
Sister Olivia Williams
Unopposed President Candidate, Women's Auxiliary
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Former Leading Lady, First African Baptist Church of East Savannah
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Current Vice President, The Savannah Baptist Minister's Wives and Minister's Widows Alliance
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Member, The Savannah Interdenominational Minister's Wives and Minister's Wives Association, Georgia Retired Educators Association and Chatham Retired Educators Association
Women's Auxiliary 1st Vice President
Minister Brittany Barnes
Unopposed 1st Vice President Candidate, Women's Auxiliary
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Associate Minister, First Union Baptist Church
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(Interim) 2nd Vice President, Berean Women's Auxiliary
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President, Mission Ministry, First Union Baptist Church
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President, Youth Ministry, First Union Baptist Church
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Teacher, Sunday School, First Union Baptist Church
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Facilitator, Youth Bible Study, First Union Baptist Church
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Serves as Choir Director, First Union Baptist Church
Women's Auxiliary 2nd Vice President
Sister Patricia Henderson
2nd Vice President Candidate, Women's Auxiliary
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Member, First Union Baptist Church
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Youth Coordinator (Ages 9-12), Berean Missionary Baptist Association Congress of Christian Education
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Director, Christian Education, First Union Baptist Church
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Served as Superintendent and Teacher, Sunday School, First Union Baptist Church
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Works with the Youth Department, First Union Baptist Church
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Treasurer, Spencer E. White Scholarship
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Member of several professional, community, and civic organizations.
Evangelist Jessie Jones
2nd Vice President Candidate, Women's Auxiliary
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Associate Minister, First African Baptist Church of East Savannah
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Various Positions served at First African Baptist Church of East Savannah such as Youth Bible Study Teacher, New Members Class Teacher, Children's Sunday School, Missions, Comfort & Care, Nursing Homes, and Youth Department Advisor.
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Volunteer Activities include Second Harvest, Savannah Feed the Hungry, Spinal Cord Injury Program at Habersham YMCA.
Women's Auxiliary Secretary
Minister Tiffany Stewart (I)
Secretary Candidate, Women's Auxiliary
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Associate Minister, Happy Home Baptist Church
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Incumbent (Interim) Secretary, Women's Auxiliary
Sister Ashley Frink
Secretary Candidate, Women's Auxiliary
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Member, First African Baptist Church of East Savannah
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Choir Member, First African Baptist Church of East Savannah
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Youth Department Worker, First African Baptist Church of East Savannah
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Youth Department Worker, Bolton Street Baptist Church
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Youth Department Council, Berean Missionary Baptist Association
Congress of Christian Education President
Reverend Johnnie M. Perkins, II
Unopposed President Candidate, Congress of Christian Education
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Youth Minister, Second Arnold Baptist Church
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President, Second Arnold Deacons, Ministers, and Wives Ministry
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Website Manager, Berean Missionary Baptist Association and Second Arnold Baptist Church
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Production Manager, Second Arnold Baptist Church
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Certified Instructor, Sunday School Publishing Board
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Former President, Savannah State Wesleyan Gospel Choir (2015-2017)
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Member of Board of Music Directors, Gospel Music Workshop of America Savannah Chapter Mass Choir
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Former Youth Music Director, General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia Congress of Christian Education
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Former Music Director, Berean Missionary Baptist Association
Congress of Christian Education Vice President
Pastor Vernon Galloway
Vice President Candidate, Congress of Christian Education
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Pastor, First Union Baptist Church
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Served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps
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Employee, Gulfstream Aerospace (over 37 years)
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Former Pastor, Second Mount Pleasant Baptist Church (nearly 13 years)
Pastor Alphonso Piper, Sr.
Vice President Candidate, Congress of Christian Education
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Pastor, St. John Divine Baptist Church
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Pastor, Goodwill Baptist Church
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Member, Clergy Men In Action
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Devotional Worship Leader, GMBC Congress of Christian Education Ministers' Division
Congress of Christian Education Secretary
Sister DaVita L. Cossey
Unopposed Secretary Candidate, Congress of Christian Education
​Berean Church Affiliation
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Historic First African Baptist Church - Franklin Square (17 years)
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Vacation Bible School Teacher (First African and Second Arnold)
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Youth Ministry Staff - Liturgical Dance Leader
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Music Ministry - Praise Team and Choir
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Professional Experience
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Administrative Office Student Worker and Teacher's Assistant (4 years)
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Childcare Center Assistant and Funeral Service Attendant​
Congress of Christian Education Dean
Sister Kathy Morgan (I)
Unopposed Dean Candidate, Congress of Christian Education
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Member, First Smyrna Baptist Church
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Incumbent Dean, Berean Missionary Baptist Association
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Certified Dean, General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia 1st District
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Certified Dean, Zion Missionary Baptist Association
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Assistant Secretary, General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia
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Chapter Representative, Gospel Music Workshop of America Savannah Chapter
Congress of Christian Education
Director General
Deacon Edward Williams (I)
Director General Candidate, Congress of Christian Education
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Vice Chair of Deacons, Central Baptist Church of Thunderbolt
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Incumbent (Interim) Director General, Berean Congress of Christian Education
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Trustee, Central Baptist Church of Thunderbolt
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Sunday School Instructor, Central Baptist Church of Thunderbolt
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COPP Student, Sunday School Publishing Board
Pastor Cornelius J. E. Lloyd
Director General Candidate, Congress of Christian Education
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Pastor, First African Baptist Church of East Savannah
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Served for 8 years working with children of incarcerated parents, Foreverfamily, Inc. (formerly known as AIM), nonprofit agency in Atlanta, GA
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Former Minister to Youth, Young Adults, and College Students, Ray of Hope Christian Church - Decatur, GA (2010-2016)
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Former Associate Pastor for Youth & Young Adults, Little Bryan Missionary Baptist Church
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Served as Community Supervision Officer, State of Georgia Department of Community Supervision
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Joined the staff of Xcel Strategies - A Mentoring Network where he currently served the Mentoring Director - Chatham County
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Served as Asset Building Coordinator, Step Up Savannah
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Former Assistant Pastor, First African Baptist Church of East Savannah (2022)
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Director of Neighborhood Engagement, East Savannah United
Laymen's Auxiliary President
Deacon James Green (I)
Unopposed President Candidate, Laymen's Auxiliary
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Chairman of Deacons, Zion Hill Baptist Church
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Youth Advisor, Berean Youth Department
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Incumbent (Interim) President, Berean Laymen's Auxiliary
Laymen's Auxiliary Vice President
Deacon Wilbert J. Haggray
Unopposed Vice-President Candidate, Laymen's Auxiliary
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Deacon, First African Baptist Church of Franklin Square
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Choir Member, First African Baptist Church of Franklin Square
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President, Boweevill Hill Community Association, Bloomingdale, GA
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Incoming Chairperson for Political Action Committee, Beta Phi Lambda Chapter of Savannah, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
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Chairperson, Political Awareness Ministry (First African Baptist Church of Franklin Square)
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Vice Chairperson, Men's Ministry (First African Baptist Church of Franklin Square)
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Retired Army Officer and Department of Army Civilian
Laymen's Auxiliary Secretary
Deacon Samuel Britton
Unopposed Secretary Candidate, Laymen's Auxiliary
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Deacon, First Tabernacle Baptist Church
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Member, National & State Ushers Association
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Member, Chatham County Deacons Convention
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Member, National Baptist Deacons Convention
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Former Secretary, Southern District for State Ushers Association
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Member, Chatham County Democratic Party
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Sponsor, Boy Scouts of America Troops