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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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