MCARTHUR “AJ” CRITTENDEN JR. was born and raised in Selma, AL. After graduating high school in 2002, he received a baseball scholarship to attended Alabama State University. He also attended Wallace Community College Selma where he received his A.A.S degree. Mr. Crittenden has 15 years’ experience in the field of Information Technology. He began his career as a computer technician and network specialist at Computer & Data Networking Services, providing service to Dallas County and the surrounding areas. He later gained employment at Marion Military Institute; where he held the positions of Network Administrator, Assistant Director of Information Technology, and currently, Director of Information Technology. In 2015, he was elected to serve as President of the Alabama Community College System – Information Services Association. He was also recognized as a “twenty under forty” in the 2017 edition of Selma The Magazine. He is a volunteer coach for Selma’s youth recreation department and currently serves as the Vice President of the Glenda Davis Deese Foundation. Mr. Crittenden believes that it is our fiduciary responsibility to provide hope and opportunity for our youth, as the youth is the hope of the future.
OSIE CUNNINGHAM is an original charter member of the foundation since May 2015. He brings a broad range of experience and oversight to the foundation. He has been employed by Alabama Power Company for over 35 years. He is well known and highly respected in the local community. He is caring, compassionate and always out front when it comes to supporting any activities for the underserved youth in the community. He donates the use of his building that hosts our annual Fun Day for the youth. He demonstrates excellent leadership skills as well as the ability to bring volunteers together for a common cause. He is involved with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life each year. He never turns a cheek when he is called upon to assist someone in need in the community. He currently serves as the adult Sunday school teacher at his church. At the Foundation he serves in two roles, secretary and Treasurer for the Foundation. He has served on various boards and is an asset to the foundation.
CHRIS FAILS is a long-time resident of historic Selma, Alabama. He attended school in the Dallas County School System. After graduating high school in 1983, he enlisted in the United States Army. During his tenure in the Army, he served as a logistics operator, Recruiter, Career Counselor and Recruiter Trainer. He retired from the United States Army after twenty years of honorable service to his country.
In 2004, he began a second career as an Alabama State Trooper. As a Trooper, he serves proudly as a Field Training Officer, Traffic Homicide Investigator, and in the Honor Guard. All of his job positions require excellent communication skills and self-discipline.
He has been a member of the Pride of Alabama Elks Lodge in Selma, Alabama since 2005. He served as Exhalated Ruler of the Elks Lodge in 2015. He attends Providence Baptist Church where he faithfully serves as a deacon.
He currently serves as a Director for The Glenda Davis Deese Foundation, bringing a willingness to serve to the Youth Leadership Black Belt component.
He says, his “One goal in life is to change the lives of Selma’s youth for the better, one child at a time.”
CONSTANCE REESE is a native of Selma, Alabama. She received her B.S. degree from Stillman College. She attended graduate school at Kent State University. After completing an internship at the Federal Correctional institution, Alderson, W VA, she began a 28 year career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons as a correctional officer. After being promoted to positions of increased responsibility, she was selected as Warden at the Federal Correctional Institution Dublin (FCI), in Pleasanton, CA. In 1999, she became the warden at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester MI, where she was also appointed to the senior executive service under then Attorney General Janet Reno. Ms. Reese also served as warden at the Federal Correctional Complexes in Beaumont, TX and in Yazoo MS. She retired in Dec 2009 after serving as the Warden at the FCI, Talladega, AL. She currently lives in Prattville, Alabama, where she is a member of the first Missionary Baptist Church and a member of Ala Kappa Alpha sorority. Her passion is to reduce the incarceration rate among our youth.
ELIZABETH HOLLIE possesses 25 years’ experience in the legal field. She began working as a legal secretary and continued this field while attending and completing law school. Upon passing the Alabama State Bar Exam, she began working independently at her own law firm. In 2017, she joined Legal Services Alabama Selma office as a Staff Attorney. Ms. Hollie, a native of Tuscaloosa, felt it important to invest in the community in which she worked and transitioned to Selma. She currently serves the Managing Attorney of the Selma office of Legal Services Alabama handling various civil cases.
BELINDA WILLIAMS is a native of Huntsville, Alabama. She received her Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Alabama A & M University and her undergraduate degree in Communication and Marketing from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Ms. Williams retired from the Huntsville City Board of Education effective January 1, 2015, where she served first as the Assistant Director of Human Resources and then promoted to Director, and lastly served as the Compliance Director. She was the Coordinator of the Huntsville City Schools’ Policy Advisory Committee, where she assisted with and wrote policies and procedures. She served as a member of the South Huntsville Civitan, Board Member for AGAPE of North Alabama, a member of ALANA, a committee member and chair of the Student Due Process Hearings of the Huntsville City Board of Education, and a committee member of the 44 th Annual Southeastern Lectureship. Ms. Williams is a Christian and is actively involved at her congregation, Westview Church of Christ. She enjoys speaking and encouraging people of all ages, especially teenagers and young adults.