Born in New Bern, NC to the late Nettie Hatch Smith, I am a graduate of the New Bern Senior High school class of 1986. I graduated from North Carolina Central University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science in May, 1990. I also have an Associate Degree in Biblical Studies, bachelor’s degree in theology, and a master’s degree in biblical counseling. I hold the following certificates: Certified Advance Transformation Life Coach, Spiritual Life Coach, Goal Setting Life Coach, State Advance Corrections Certification, NC Probation Officer of the year 2006, and Craven County First Community Threat Group Officer. That caseload worked closely with people involved in street gangs. I was assigned Direct Release Officer from 2017-2022 for Craven Correctional Institution located in Vanceboro NC. I was nominated and recognized in the NC Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) Black History Spotlight on Feb 11, 2021. I retired from North Carolina Department of Public Safety Division of Community Corrections and Juvenile Justice in July 2022 with over 30 years of service as a Probation Parole Officer. I also received the Order of The Long Leaf Pine.