Thou Art My Sister

Roy E. Culberson

Roy E. Culberson is a native of El Paso, Texas. He received a Masters of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas at El Paso. Mr. Culberson is currently the Dean for North Central Texas College, Corinth Campus. In addition, Mr. Culberson is the executive director for First Step Denton County Outreach Program, which is an adult counseling service referred by the criminal justice system in Denton, Texas.

Prior to pursing his profession as a higher education administrator, Mr. Culberson continued to develop his leadership roles while working with young adults in youth enrichment, empowerment, overcoming obstacles, diversity and goals setting as a high school coach and collegiate coach at the University of Texas at El Paso and the University of North Texas. Moving off of the athletic fields of competition, Culberson moved into his Master’s field of Higher Education by becoming the Associate Director of Athletics at the University of North Texas, Director of Athletics at the University of Montevallo and Director of Athletics at Jackson State University and presently as Dean of North Central Texas College on the Corinth campus.

Roy Culberson received the honor as a Barrier Breaker at the University of North Texas in the Celebration of 50 Years of Progress of Opportunity; the Bill Wade Unsung Hero Award at the ALL-AMERICAN Football Foundation of Champions; The Visionary Award at Jackson State University for athletic vision of facilities which was dedicated in the name of the late great Walter Payton; The City Council of Jackson and the State of Mississippi resolution for Outstanding Leadership and Service Award; and a Honoree recipient of Strathmore’s Who’s Who for 2004-2005.

Mr. Culberon’s favorite quote, is from the book Unleash the Winner Within You! “Wherever you are in life YOU CAN go to the next level. Whether it is succeeding in a career, making more money or accomplishing personal goals, there is another level, and YOU CAN GET THERE.”

Roy Culberson resides in Carrollton, Texas with his wife Deborah.

Rev. Mary Lyles

Rev. Mary Lyles is the daughter of the late Rev. Delia East. She is also the mother of eight children and the widow of the late Ret. Sgt. Thomas William Lyles.

After raising her children, she continued her academic education and later obtained an Associate’s Degree from Weatherford Jr. College, Weatherford, TX. In addition to her college education, she successfully completed course such as Basic Alcohol and Drug Counseling; Strategies for Success; Violence Prevention; Battered Women/Why They Stay; Borderline Personality/Desperately Seeking Perfection; Intimacy and Recovery; Behavioral Approaches for Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder; Discipline with Love and Logic before it’s too late and Working with Anti-Social Children.

She has received numerous recognitions for her outstanding service to the community and her participation in outreach ministries.

She accepted her call to ordain ministry and was licensed to preach in 1982. She was ordained Itinerant Elder and served as pastor at Smith Chapel A.M.E. Church, Eastland, Texas for 6 years. She resides in Oklahoma and continues her ministry by serving on the Ministerial Staff at her church.

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Cassandra Jones

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Cassandra J. Jones a native of Denton, TX. She is a graduate of Denton High School and Texas Woman’s University. She has completed some post graduate work at the University of North Texas.

Cassandra is a longtime member of St. James A.M.E Church, Denton, Texas. She serves her church in many areas.

Cassandra is currently the Marketing Educator at Allen High School, Allen, Texas. She has taught Marketing Education for 15 years.

Cassandra is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Marketing Educators of Texas, Delta Kappa Gamma and DECA. She currently serves as an Association of Marketing Students Advisor and was selected as DECA Advisor of the Year for 2005-2006.

Landeia Phillips

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Greetings!

My name is Landeia Phillips. I am a recent graduate from the University of North Texas with a B.A. in Communication Studies and Spanish minor. During my undergraduate education, I enjoyed serving as a UNT Housing Resident Advisor, Lambda Pi Eta Communications Honor Society Member, and volunteering for the Arc of Dallas special education advocacy foundation. I currently attend Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University as a Masters of Divinity candidate. My career development revolves around my interest in inner-city/international missions and special education advocacy. In my free time, I enjoy shopping, watching movies, and attending aerobic classes. My encouragement to pass on to you, my sister in Christ, is to “be the change you wish to see in the world”, stated by Mahatma Ghandi, a legendary spiritual and political leader from India.

Anthony Sims

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Anthony Sims was born in Stephenville, Texas. He lived in Fort Worth most of his formative years. He moved back to Stephenville and later graduated from Stephenville High School. After graduating from Stephenville High School, he attended and graduated from Howard Payne University, Brownwood, TX. Anthony also obtained a Master’s in Education from Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX.

Anthony became an ordained minister in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in 1973. He served as senior pastor for five churches in the West Texas Conference and two churches in the Dallas Forth/Worth Conference. Anthony served in the ministry for over thirty years. Of those 30 plus years, he served as the senior pastor for 24 years.

Anthony has worked for the Denton Independent School District for 16 years. He taught at Fred Moore Learning Center and Denton High School. He joined the staff at Calhoun Middle School in the summer of 1997 where he served as an assistant principal for four years. In 2001, Anthony became the principal of Calhoun Middle School. He has proudly served as the principal of Calhoun Middle School for nine years.

Anthony has been married to his wife, Vanessa for 30 years. They are the proud parents of three sons.

Milton Wallace

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miltonwallace@sbcglobal.net

Milton is a retired educator. He was an educator for thirty years. He worked 25 of the 30 years as a High School Principal. Milton is a member of the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association of Black Educators, and the NAACP. He also served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Student Council from 2003 – 2007.

Milton is the President of Longview Community Men, Longview, Texas. He attends Macedonia Baptist Church and The Potter’s House. He is married to Gwen and they have no children.

While retired, Milton takes care of his mother, drives a tractor and is a Travel Agent. He states that, “He can make all your Dreams Come True in Travel!”

Captain Anthony Sims Jr.

Captain Anthony Lewis Sims Jr. is the son of Reverend Anthony L. Sims Sr. and Vanessa Sims. At an early age he became interested in military service and aeronautics, prompting his joining of the United State Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol where he learned to fly small aircraft and honed the elements of leadership and teamwork. After graduating high school Captain Sims obtained a scholarship to the New Mexico Military Institute and enlisted into the New Mexico Army National Guard. As a new cadet, he participated in the Reserve Officer Training Corps earning a commission as a 2^nd Lieutenant Army military officer through the Early Commissioning Program.

Captain Sims was assigned to Alpha Company (-) 3-144^th Infantry and served as Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Officer in Charge for 6 years. After having learned the elements of management, camaraderie, and selfless service, Captain Sims decided to again pursue aviation and was accepted into Army Aviation Training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. While at Fort Rucker, he graduated from the Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape school, the Army Aviation Maintenance Management and Leaders Course, and earned his wings to become an Army Aviator.

His next assignment was to Delta Company (-) 2-149^th Aviation as an Aviation Platoon Leader. His unit was deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraq Freedom, where Captain Sims served as a combat pilot, unit public affairs officer, emergency management officer, and movement officer. Throughout his military career, he has earned various medals to include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal.

Captain Anthony Sims Jr. has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration.

Elida Tamez