Editor,

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Seven Ministries will once again sponsor the Jackie Gilliard-Henderson Memorial Scholarship Walk-A-Thon Fund Raiser. This is our 10th annual event and it’s slated to start at 7 a.m. on May 21, 2022. The five-mile walk/ run starts at Rebecca’s Place in Hinesville, across from First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.

Seven Ministries is a 501c3 non-profit organization incorporated in 2011. We offer a variety of programs that are supported by this once-a-year fund raiser. In our 12th year of existence, we have awarded over $40,000 in scholarships to deserving high school seniors at the county’s two public high schools. We have also assisted with homelessness in Liberty and surrounding counties by providing rental assistance and help with utility bills. We’ve held back-to-school rallies where we hand out school supplies, and our Annual Christmas Giveaway provides turkeys and hams to deserving senior citizens. We also have a mobile Drug and Alcohol Ministry.

The JGH Memorial Scholarship is in memory of my mother, who died in 2011 of renal failure. Along with my dad, Robert Henderson, and my aunts Ernestine Taylor and Bertha Mae Reid, they served as neighborhood parents to countless children growing up on Rebecca Street, Azalea Street and throughout Liberty County. This Memorial Walk serves to recognize their good works. (At 94 years old, my Aunt Ernestine is still serving.)

The Co-Grand Marshalls for this year’s walk will recognize several areas of leadership throughout Liberty County: Religion, Rev. Sinclair L. Thorne (FCMBC) and Pastor Richard Hayes of the Liberty County Ministerial Alliance; Advocacy, Dexter Newby (Liberty County Drug Court) and Henry Wilson (FCMBC Recovery Ministry); Politics, District 1 Liberty County Commissioner Marion Stevens, District 3 Liberty County Commissioner Connie Thrift, Riceboro Mayor Chris Stacy, and Midway Mayor Pro Tem Clemontine Washington; Education, Liberty County Board of Education Chairperson Lily Baker and Liberty County School Superintendent Dr. Franklin Perry; Sports, Bradwell Institute Varsity Girls Basketball Coach Faye Baker, Bradwell Institute Varsity Boys Basketball Coach Ty Randolph, Liberty County High School Varsity Girls Coach Kimberly Battle and Liberty County High School Varsity Boys Coach Devon Grant; Law and Order, State Court Judge Jeffery Osteen and Hinesville Police Chief Lloyd Slater; Friendship, Hinesville Mayor Allen Brown, Carolyn Smith-Carter, Michael Sparks, Eddie and Kathy Walden, and Kent and Yvonne Smith; Business, Charles Frasier of Frasier Barber Shop, Karl Riles of Riles Tax Service and Melissa Carter-Ray of State Farm Insurance; Civil Rights, Liberty County NAACP Chapter President Rev. Eric Hollis; Community Engagement, Jeff and Michelle Ricketson;, and Leadership, Liberty County Administrator Joey Brown and Hinesville City Manager Kenneth Howard.

We’re asking for tax-deductible donations. Please plan to join us for this momentous occasion and community fund raiser; everyone is invited.

What a great way to jump start your summer!

God Bless, 

Gary Gilliard, President/CEO, Seven Ministries of Liberty County