Category: bio

Janet Mckinon Sigh was born on March 03, 1953 in West Palm Beach, Florida. After graduating from High School she attended Oakwood College graduating in 1975 with a BS in Sociology. It was at Oakwood where she met her future husband, Odea Sigh, Jr. They were married following Janet’s graduation. From that 49 year union was the blessing of two sons, Odea III and Sean Sigh Sr. They have five cherished grandsons.

After graduating from Oakwood College, Janet worked as a Social Worker. In 1983 the family moved to Berrien Springs, MI. While living in Michigan Janet pursued her passion and became a Registered Nurse. She later met the requirements to become a certified Rehabilitation Nurse. Janet also obtained a teaching certification from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Janet and Odea are currently retired and living in Silver Springs, FL. In retirement she leads out in a community group bible study. Camping (Glamping) is one of her favorite past times which she dreams of doing full time. Janet is an avid reader and loves board games. She is a motivational speaker and has authored two books: No Time For The Gospel and recently launched on Amazon, Think It Over. 

Valda Briggs Simpkins was born and raised in Augusta, Georgia.  After graduating in1975 from Oakwood College with a Behavioral Science degree, she returned to her hometown of Augusta.  

Valda has forty years of experience working with children and adults within the community.  She started her career path in 1975 at a local community center in Augusta. She served as a social worker technician and later became project director of the Title XX Child Development Comprehensive Program. 

In 1986, Valda accepted employment with the public school system as a high school vocational education teacher. During her time of employment there, she planned and implemented the first child development lab program at the high school.  In 1994, she was named Teacher of the Year and earned a Master of Education degree in Secondary Education from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Valda joined the faculty of Augusta Technical College in 1998 and retired from that institution in March 2016 as Department Head/Instructor of the Early Childhood Department.  

Valda is a member of Ebenezer Seventh-day Adventist Church in Augusta.

Valda is the proud parent of two adult children and one handsome grandson.  She is married to James Simpkins of Augusta, Georgia.

Diane Bailey attended Oakwood College from Sept 71 to June 72 where she majored in pre-nursing. Although Oakwood offered only a one year pre-nursing major at that time, becoming a part of the Oakwood Family was important to her. She transferred to Columbia Union College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Nursing Degree in 1975.

Diane began her career in the hospital setting but quickly discovered her passion for Community Health Nursing. She later pursued further education earning a Masters Degree in Health Administration from Hofstra University in New York.

Diane held various management positions in Community Health Care: Quality Assurance, Gerontology and Oasis Specialist culminating in the position of Director of Patient Services for two NY Certified Home Care Agencies. Under her leadership both agencies obtained accreditation for Joint Commission . Diane was especially recognized for her leadership in saving the organization thousands of dollars in recouped funds from the Government.

Diane now resides in Huntsville Alabama . She retired in 2020, after a successful career. She considers her greatest achievement and joy is the life she built with her husband of 49 years Pastor Larry Bailey of South Central Conference, three adult daughters, one son and law and five grandchildren. All three daughters attended Oakwood University, one is currently a Vice-Principal of the academy.

Bessie Ratliff-White, born in Oakland California currently resides in Huntsville, Alabama.

Bessie served as a former minister’s wife for 29 years.

She has done Bible Work for over 50 years and works part-time at First SDA Church.

She owns a Non-Profit Charitable Organization, Bessong & Ministries, Inc. Her company has donated thousands of clothing, household items, and furniture to individuals in the Huntsville vicinity.

Bessie is a speaker, singer, cellist, songwriter, actress, and author and has recently written her life story in the book entitled “My Bess Story for God’s Glory” (From Rejection to Royal Election) Order: bessiewhitespeaks.com

Background

Regina Craig Warren, born on April 23, 1953, is a native of New Orleans, LA.

Education

Regina obtained a B.S. degree in Secretarial Science with a minor in Business Administration. In 1993 Regina also obtained a Certificate in Litigation at the University of California in Los Angeles.

Family

Regina met her lifetime partner, Clinton Warren, at Oakwood and they have been married for 48 years, currently living in Douglasville, GA. They have 3 sons: Clinton III, Chad and Craig.

Career

Regina spent 42+ years at Wells Fargo Bank primarily in the area of Commercial Real Estate/Community Lending and Investment, earning a corporate title of Vice President with various functional roles as Loan Administration Manager, Special Projects Manager and Lead Business Execution Consultant. She recently retired as of 8-2024.

Hobbies and Interests

Reading, mystery movies, gospel and “old school” music, electronic games, purses and the color purple.

After graduating with Honors from Oakwood College in May 1975, Beverly Ward-Gregg spent the next 44+ years in the Aerospace Defense line of work overseeing hundreds of Government Contractor Classified Special Programs involving the Information Security, Information Technology and Physical Security Organizations in the Space and Airborne Systems Business Unit. Among many notable tenure accomplishments, Ms. Gregg was awarded the “James S. Cogswell Award” which is the highest honor extended by the Department of Defense (DoD) to a Defense Contractor in recognition for all areas of protecting our Classified National Security Interests in the U.S. as well as Abroad. Beverly retired in November 2019 and currently serves as Chairperson of the Board of Directors at the Foundation for the Study of America’s Technology Leadership (FSATL), a Charitable 501(c)3 which she and her late husband (deceased Dec 2019) Lucius Perry Gregg Jr. founded in 1999. She is the proud mother of one daughter, Essence D. Carmichael, MBA Healthcare Administration alumna of Loma Linda University.

Louraine Mitchell-Meyers, a native of California, attended Oakwood College from 1971-73 and continued her education at the University of La Verne in Southern California, setting the foundation for a career in healthcare.  Louraine married in 1974, and has two sons, a daughter-in-love and five remarkable grandchildren.

Her 43 year career in Healthcare Management began at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she honed her skills and expertise. Louraine’s career culminated with her role as Practice Manager for Coast Hematology-Oncology Associates in 2018.

Beyond her professional achievements, Louraine has a passion for travel, music, reading and Women’s Ministries.   Louraine launched “Reading With Passion,” a book club she founded in 1996 focused on works by African-American authors.  This long-established club reflects her commitment to literacy and the celebration of diverse voices.

Continuing to stay active and involved in her church, Louraine balances retirement life with serving as Church Administrative Assistant.

NOELETTE: Speaker, Singer, Composer,  Published Author and Doula.
Noelette has ministered throughout the U.S. and beyond, since her matriculation at Oakwood,  and has been privileged to not only minister in concerts singularly but join with artists such as Richard Smallwood, Edwin Hawkins and other celebrated gospel and jazz artists. Her CD “Just to Say Thank You” can be found on Spotify and YouTube along with her recordings with the group Paradise “Can’t You See The Light”.  Her most recent composition written by she and her son, Armand Hutton, “Love Is”, is soon to be released.

Her books “No more Monday Morning Blues” and “Because He Lives You Can”, can be found on Amazon. Written during Covid they were meant to encourage others and express the existence and participation of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in every aspect of every life.

As a woman of color and mother, becoming a doula was imperative, realizing the disparities of treatment endured by so many women today. She can be reached by email: [email protected]

Zavon was born and currently resides in Kansas City, Mo. He is a product of SDA Christian education. After graduation from Oakwood, he furthered his education by graduating from Meharry Medical College (DDSL University of Missouri Graduate School of Education, UMKC Oral Medicine Residency Program and the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

Over the years his professional pursuits have been as a university professor at Washington University (St Louis) and University of Mo KC, US Army officer (retired as a full colonel) and the private practice of dental medicine.

His business pursuits include real estate development, single family home construction and acquisition and renovation of rental housing. He is the co-founder of three banks serving as board chairman and director.

Some of his religious and community service——– church elder, local church school board chairman, president of United Services Community Action Agency (largest KC antipoverty agency) and a member of the Oakwood University Board of Trustees.

He loves to travel——He is a Sigma Pi Phi ( Boule’) fraternity member—­ He is a proud Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals fan.

He is happily married to Jackie Kay and has two children and three granddaughters.

My Last Days at Oakwood

I experienced sad days the entire month of April, 1973 after choir tour and was well aware, when I first walked onto our beautiful campus, that I would have to leave because of the lack of funds…even told my parents I would be satisfied just to get two Quarters at Oakwood “under my belt”. This lack of funds always weighed heavily upon my shoulders, the entire 6 Quarters of matriculation, and prevented me from obtaining the academic excellence I knew I was capable of.

The day of my departure I located my “campus sister” (Pearlie Walton was her name “back in the day”) and asked her to drive me to the bus station. No one knew I was leaving, just as no one knew I was a pianist; I wanted to leave as quickly and quietly as possible.

That dreadful day in April, 1973 and down through the years insignificant me would look into the Heavens and yell aloud or think – “You better not make it possible for me to help someone attend Oakwood”. God had plans for me and that was to influence others I wouldn’t have been able to had I completed my studies. In addition, God responded to my yelling at Him and made it possible for me to financially assist Oakwood students and others not from Oakwood after my early retirement in 2014.

For over 50 years I inwardly grieved about not getting an Oakwood degree. I visited in 1976, 2005, and even played a medley of songs as a guest in 2017 for early morning Alumni Weekend services at the Von Braun; I never thought I could survive doing that in 1973.

I worked at odd jobs for a number of years finally landing one with the state of SC, after undergoing a multitude of tests, and worked for 36 years before early retirement.

2024, I finally resolved my feelings about not getting this treasured degree from Oakwood and have no regrets but anxiously await our Lord’s soon return.