Valerie Lee is the eldest child of Phyllis and Gregory Lee and the sister of the late Reverend Deborah “Chinaza” Lee. Her grandparents were the late Henry and Ira Lee Holmes and her great-grandmother, the late Piccola Patterson Vaughn. She was educated in the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic School system and graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School in 1985. She attended college at the University of the District of Columbia before transferring to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Graduating with honors in 1991, she was among the first group of students to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in the newly established Civil Engineering program at NC A&T.
Valerie worked as a Transportation Engineer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Grice and Associates in Atlanta, Georgia. She currently works as a Transportation Planning and Analysis Program lead in the Transportation Engineering and Operations Bureau at Arlington County, Virginia’s Department of Transportation.
She is a life-long member at her church, Saint John CME Church of Washington, DC and has recently become a licensed exhorter. She teaches a weekly Bible study class and is a member of the ministerial team at St. John.
Val currently serves as President of the Byrd Patterson Family Reunion LLC Board of Managing Members. Her duties include leading the team in making sound decisions for the betterment of the Patterson family. By her dedicated service, she has shown her commitment to helping the family create a lasting family legacy for generations to come.
Joseph Holmes Sr is the son of the late Henry and Ira Lee Holmes. Originally from Maryland, now residing in Charles Town, West Virginia. Married to Stephanie with a combined total of six children; Joseph Jr (33), Jaylan (29), Erick (29), Justin (24), Janae (18) and Emmanuel (15). Three grandchildren; Jaylen (8), MaSaith (4) and Ella (3).
Jerri Smith currently serves as the board secretary. She is the daughter or Mary Ann Miller (daughter of Straywell Patterson) and Col. James E. Miller. Her husband is Shaka Smith and they have two children, Blake and Blair Smith. She is currently the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Affairs for Norfolk Public Schools in Norfolk, Virginia.
Dr. Lisa Richardson-Cox is the proud daughter of the late Willie Lee Richardson, Jr and the late Carolyn Richardson of Detroit, MI. She is also the proud granddaughter of the late Willie Lee Richardson, Sr and the late Lilar Patterson Richardson also of Detroit, MI.
Dr. Lisa is the mother of three beautiful and talented children; Brandon-BCox, Jasmine-Jazzy and Ciera “CC” Cox. She is ecstatic to be a new grandmother to Miss Olivia (Sweet 2-year-old going on 22) the light in their hearts! The absolute love of her life is a brilliant, generous, God and family loving man named Daniel!
Dr. Lisa grew up as a member of Peace Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit, MI and baptized at an early age, she accepted Christ and continues to walk with the Lord everyday.
Dr. Lisa has an extensive educational journey with (4) Business Degrees inclusive of her Doctorate in Management specialty Organizational Leadership. She currently works with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Service.
Dr. Lisa has an entrepreneurial spirit definitely an attribute from her dad, The Bill and her Uncle Calvin of Uncle Calvin’s Sweet Potato Pies! Dr. Lisa has a local construction company, vending machine business, she is a Realtor in the great states of Michigan and Nevada and has an interest in a food truck enterprise in Las Vegas, NV. Her ultimate dream is leveraging OPM in building generational wealth with real estate to pass down her lineage.
Dr. Lisa currently serves as a member at large on the Board of Managing Members of the Byrd Patterson Family Reunion LLC. She has managed the creation, yearly iterations, and implementation of the Byrd Patterson Family website since inception many years ago. She enjoys working with her family members on the Board who each bring their extensive background and expertise to the table with the common goal of elevating our family in Spirit and Business!
Benson Waltower is the son of Wilma Waltower and the late Benson Waltower Sr. The only grandson of late Willie Lee Richardson, Sr and the late Lilar Patterson Richardson. His wife is Juanita Waltower.
Benson was born and raised in the city of Detroit. He is a career entrepreneur. He owns and operates a real estate brokerage and an environmental testing & abatement firm.
Benson enjoys spending time with his wife Juanita and their a aussiedoodle, Oakley. He is a diehard Detroit Lions fan and golfer.
Benson serves as a member at large on the Byrd Patterson Family Reunion LLC Board. He is dedicated to making sure the reunion continues for generations to come.
Evangelina Hemphill serves as a member at large on the Byrd Patterson Family Reunion Board of Directors. Utilizing her more than 20 years of experience as an engineer for multibillion dollar corporations and government agencies. A corporate industrial engineer turned entrepreneur, she is a sought-after STEM/STEAM advocate, speaker, and serial entrepreneur. Evangelina knows firsthand the importance of success strategies, profit increase and values the skills needed to be successful in today’s marketplace. For almost two decades, she has been supporting girls and women to pursue STEM/STEAM careers or start a STEM/STEAM based businesses. She does this phenomenal work through speaking to students, giving keynotes at business conferences and hosting her own events. Evangelina always welcomes new opportunities and looks forward to meaningful connections.
Married to Jason Hemphill for over 20 years, they are the proud parents of Jason II, Jordan, and Joey. Evangelina is the daughter of Diannia Hammond and the late William Howard Hammond, Sr., the granddaughter of the late Straywell and Annie Margaret Patterson, the great-granddaughter of the late Lewis David Patterson, and the great-great-granddaughter of the late Byrd Patterson.