Ora Bailey, Jason Witcher and Shivern Jeter were elected to Rockdale Emergency Relief’s (RER’s) Board of Directors this past week. The three new members join existing board members Anitra Griffin, Jason Korzan, Tonya Parker, Cari Trueblood and State Senator JaNice VanNess.   

Ora Bailey – As owner/operator of Beasley Drug Company in Olde Town Conyers, Ora Bailey strives to maintain and enhance the wellbeing of her community. A 2002 graduate of Valencia Community College, Ora went on to attain her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Georgia in 2010. Ora’s other interests include serving as a 2nd & 3rd grade Sunday School Teacher at her home church, Conyers First United Methodist Church, and in the past, teaching ballet for children (aged 6 and up) and creative movement for preschool children. She is active in the American Pharmacists Association (2010), the Georgia Pharmacy Association (2006), and the Academy of Independent Pharmacies (2012). Ora first became involved with RER as a volunteer with the organization’s Summer Lunch Program in 2014, serving as a driver on the delivery routes and helping provide hundreds of sack lunches for children in need each of the past three summers.  

Jason Witcher – After graduating from Heritage High School, Jason Witcher enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1999. Upon his return, he began a career in law enforcement serving with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office. After the terror attacks of 9/11, Jason was recalled to active military duty and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. After his deployment, Jason returned to the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office before accepting a position with the Morrow Police Department. He later accepted a position with the City of Dunwoody and assisted with the establishment of the Dunwoody Police Department. After serving the citizens of metro Atlanta as a law enforcement professional for over 13 years, Jason returned to active military duty as a Commissioned Officer in the Georgia Army National Guard. During this tenure, Jason was recruited to his current position where he continues to serve the citizens of Rockdale County as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.  Jason holds an Associate of Applied Technology degree from DeKalb Technical College, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Troy University, and also holds a Masters of Public Administration degree from Columbus State University. He is also a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College. Jason currently lives in Covington, GA with his daughter Hailee and son Preston.

Shivern Jeter – Rev. Shivern L. Jeter was born in Columbus, Ohio and has been a resident of Conyers for the past 15 years. She is happily married to Wesley Jeter and the mother of two beautiful girls, Zaria and Laila. She is a graduate of The Ohio Diocese School of Biblical Theology, a graduate of Morehouse School of Religion at ITC in Atlanta, and a current student at Luther Rice University. Shivern is committed to serving her community in different capacities, including currently serving as a minister at Strait Gate Church under Pastor George Levett; a Chaplain at Rockdale Hospital; a Chaplain at Westbury Nursing Home; an Asst. Chaplain at the Rockdale Sherriff’s Dept., and a Chaplain for the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Rockdale/Newton section. She is a Rockdale County substitute teacher, as well as PTO President and Council Board Member at Pine Street Elementary. Shivern says she is motivated by the Scripture verse Matthew 25:35 (KJV): “For I was hungry, and you gave me meat; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in.”

“We are excited to welcome Ora, Jason and Shivern as members of the Rockdale Emergency Relief Board of Directors,” commented RER Board Chair, State Senator JaNice Van Ness. “We appreciate their dedication to advancing the needs of their fellow community members and helping make Rockdale even stronger!”

RER Executive Director, the Rev. Andrew Peabody, added, “Our organization works very hard to advocate for the needs of the ‘least of these.’  For the past 49 years RER has helped address crucial gaps in services in the community, and we are excited that Ora, Jason, and Shivern will be with us in service as we celebrate our upcoming milestone of 50 years of service in 2023!”

For questions or more information, please contact Andrew Peabody at [email protected]  or 770-820-8232.