Director Biographies
Reverend E. Randolph (Randy) Graham, MBA, MDiv, (President and Executive Director) is the pastor of The First United Baptist Church in Gloucester, VA. He is a native of King William County, Virginia. Reverend Graham retired in 2016 from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as the manager of financial systems. He has led internal audit seminars for the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) throughout North America, Africa and the Caribbean. He is a Certified Information Systems Auditor and a former Adjunct Professor at Virginia University of Lynchburg.
Ronnie Cohen, J.D., LL.M.. (Vice President) is a Professor Emerita of Business Law at Christopher Newport University She was the Director of the Luter School of Business from 2012-2015. She has published numerous scholarly articles in business law and critical legal studies. She served three terms on the Gloucester County School Board. She is a licensed attorney in Virginia and provides pro bono services to several non-profit organizations in Gloucester.
Teri Redcross-Ali (Treasurer) is a native of Gloucester County. She is a 1986 graduate of Norfolk State University School of Business. Ms. Redcross-Ali has worked as a contractor Budget/Financial Management Analyst for 25+ years for the Department of Defense. She is a member of Gloucester NAACP and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Bambi Thompson, Ed.D., (Secretary) retired after 30 years as an educator/administrator in Gloucester County Public Schools, where she was the principal of Thomas Calhoun Walker Elementary School for 17 years. She was instrumental in establishing T.C. Walker Day in 2000, which was an annual event that brought together former students of Gloucester Training School and T.C. Walker School. She is currently an educational consultant for the Virginia Department of Education. She is a member of the Friends of the Dragon Run’s youth mentorship committee, the Sanders Foundation Board, the Mathews NAACP and Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society.
Roberta Ray (Bobby), M.Ed., (Historian) retired after 31 years of teaching elementary school in Gloucester County, where she was a reading specialist. She is a member of the TC Walker Preservation Alliance, the Gloucester Chapter of the NAACP and Gloucester's Epsilon Eta Chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Ms. Ray volunteers with the Samaritan Group Sanders Foundation, and the Irene Morgan Scholarship Fund.
Colleen Betti, PhD has a doctorate in anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her dissertation research focused on the archaeology of three Black schoolhouses in Gloucester County, including Woodville. Colleen is originally from Fairfax County, Virginia, but has been working on archaeological projects in Gloucester since 2010. She is currently employed as an archaeologist in Maryland.
Deborah O. Billups, MS Ed (Old Dominion University), is a native of Gloucester County. She retired with over 30 years of service as a Department of the Army Civilian working in support of Soldier training and education worldwide. She currently volunteers with the Woodville Rosenwald Foundation, the Gloucester Museum Foundation, and the Gloucester Union Relief Association Youth Programs.
Dianne Carter de Mayo, J.D. received her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. She is a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow. Dianne teaches history courses at Gloucester High School, including the African American History elective course. She is a small business owner and chairs the Gloucester County Democratic Committee.
Diron Ford, Ed.D. currently serves as the Principal of Heritage High School in Newport News, VA. In addition to his Ed.D., Dr. Ford holds an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and an MA in Educational Counseling. He is an Adjunct Instructor at Virginia Peninsula Community College.He works with AVID, an organization dedicated to closing the opportunity gap in education.
Melanie Johnson, Melanie Johnson is a thirty-year veteran teacher with Gloucester County Public Schools. She taught 17 years at T.C. Walker Elementary School and participated in the T.C. Walker Day celebrations started there. She currently teaches at Botetourt Elementary School and has recently begun volunteering at the Gloucester County Museum of History. She has a B.A. in history from William and Mary and a M.Ed. from UVA. She served on the Board of Directors at the Gloucester County Public Library for eight years, currently serves on several GCPS committees, and is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society.
James Newton, BS, MS, is a retired educator who taught for 34 years in Gloucester County Public Schools and as an adjunct professor at Rappahannock Community College. He served in the United States Marine Corps and is president of Newton’s Corporation, Inc. and Newton’s Construction Company. James is a member of the NAACP, the Masonic Lodge and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
Donna G. Osborne, MPA, is a native of Gloucester County. She retired after over 30 years of service as a Department of the Army Civilian with a background in policy analysis, information, property and personnel security management, and program evaluation and management for soldiers, civilians and property. She also has experience in the private sector as an independent contractor and personnel security investigator for the government. She is the current president of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Eta Chapter, Gloucester, VA., and a member of the Gloucester branch of the NAACP and the Fairfield Foundation Family Circle. She is very active with her church and
other community organizations.
Jeanne Weldon Travis, Originally from Norristown, PA, Ms. Travis moved to California, earning her BA in English from UCLA. She worked primarily as an accountant with many small not-for-profit organizations. She moved to Gloucester, VA, where she has many relatives as well and strong community roots. She is now a semi-retired Notary, Bookkeeper, Life Insurance Agent, Her community activities include associations with the Barrios Trust in Oakland CA, The Almeda Homeless Network and the Fairfax (CA) Alumni Assoc.
Wesley Wilson, Ed.D., graduated from Morgan State University in 1954, then entered the Army as a 2d Lieutenant. After 20 years as an Army aviator he retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He holds three graduate degrees, including a doctorate from W&M. He is Certified as an Industry Arbitrator. He is a recognized Civil War historian. He served as chair of the Newport News School Board and the Gloucester Economic Development Authority. He is a tireless advocate for preserving African American history in Gloucester and has received numerous military and civilian awards.