Deseree Allen
Deseree Allen and her husband, Brent, are residents of Liberty Hill, SC. They are blessed to have two children, Ayden (TSA Class of 2022) and Audrey (TSA Class of 2029). Deseree is a Realtor with Home and Land Pros. Deseree is originally from Terrell, Texas, she spent 5 years on active duty in the USAF as an aviation resource management specialist, attending the Community College of the Air Force and Rose State College. She was honorably discharged in 2008, turning her focus to her own military family and serving the other military families of the SCANG as Treasurer of the Key Spouse volunteer Group family support organization of McEntire. She is a current sustaining member and the former President of the Camden Junior Welfare league where she supervised the fund raising for thousands of dollars in scholarships and grant funds to children of Kershaw County. Deseree is an active member of the Kershaw County Board of Realtors and is the residential realtor and president of the Kershaw County Business Network International chapter. She is also excited to be TSA’s 2020-2021 assistant Varsity Cheerleading coach, Go Generals!!
Chris Bradham
Chris is a Class of 2000 graduate of Thomas Sumter and a graduate of Clemson University where he received a BS in Agricultural Mechanization with a minor in Agricultural Economics. He is the Agricultural Business Officer and Senior Vice President for GrandSouth Bank headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. Chris has two children, one is in Thomas Sumter's p3 class and the other is still too young for TSA but is waiting patiently to become a GENERAL. He is married to Sarah Peake Bradham.
Paul Font
Paul Font and his wife Michelle have called Sumter South Carolina home since 1996. Paul completed his undergrad from St. Leo University and his MBA from Webster University. They are the parents of three TSA Generals; Kennedy class if 2012, Makayla class of 2017, and Lilly-Marie class of 2030.
Paul is the Director of Consulting and Support Services for Microsoft Corporation supporting the US Air Force and Joint Department of Defense. Paul served 10 years in the United States Air Force and has traveled all around the world in a multitude of operations providing communications support and leadership. He is a Seasoned IT Executive specializing in: Enterprise IT Services, Federal Government, Air Force, Joint Operations, Military Healthcare, Military Retail, Air Force Communications, Joint Combatant Commands, and the Department of Defense Agencies. Paul is actively involved in the community mentoring and recruiting people into the Information and technology fields as well as assisting former military member’s transitioning into civilian life. Paul currently serves on the IT and Academic committee on the TSA Board of Trustees.
Homer Rose
Homer Stanley Rose, born November 29, 1953 of Homer E. Rose and Faye H. Rose in Columbia, SC. He grew up in the Horrell Hill Community, attending Horrell Hill Elementary School and graduating from Lower Richland High School. Immediately upon graduation, he became inducted into the South Carolina National Guard for a six-year commitment. He became trained and served for six years in the Security Force Unit.
During the same period, Homer pursued the Electrical Construction Field and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Work. He received apprenticeship training at Midlands Technical College Evening program while working full time. After working five years of electrical construction for various contractors, he became employed by SCE&G in 1977. Homer worked at the Wateree Station as a Plant Electrician until December of 1998 (21 Years).
In 1985, still employed with SCE&G, he incorporated and established Rose Electric, Inc. to help supplement his income to send his two children to TSA. In 1998, Homer married Lisa Phillips whom he is presently married and retired from SCE&G making Rose Electric, Inc. his fulltime business. Homer places his faith in Jesus Christ above all else. He has been an active member of Beulah Baptist Church for 26 years, serving as a Deacon, singing in the choir, and teaching Sunday School. Homer became a Master Mason in 1987 and served as the Master Lower Richland Lodge 406 in 1994. He remains a current member.
Homer has sent both of his children, Clinton Homer Rose (Class of ’99) and Lori Amber Rose (Class of ’01) to TSA starting from the Four-Year-Old class. Homer’s grandchildren, Landen Rose (Class of ’19) and Kaylee Rose (Class of ’20) have also attended and graduated from TSA. Homer’s deeply rooted passion and commitment for TSA prompted him to apply and become a TSA Board Member in July of 2018. In his spare time, Homer enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, playing golf, hunting, and fishing.
Ashleigh Goza
Ashleigh Goza is a Class of 1989 graduate of Thomas Sumter Academy and has a Bachelor of Science
degree from Clemson University in Horticulture. She has two children, Madeleine Britton, Class of 2022,
and Wilson Britton, Class of 2025, following the family tradition of being a General from start to finish
during their childhood educational career.
Ashleigh and her children live on their family’s farm in Mayesville. After working in the horticultural
industry for 21 years for two other nursery companies, she started her own business in 2017. She owns
and operates a wholesale container nursery, Bluefields Nursery Company, LLC, which specializes in
perennials, woody ornamentals, grasses, and roses.
Lonnie Long
Lonnie and Lisa Long came to Sumter after joining the Air Force in 1996 where he
started his long IT career. Lonnie served a total of 10 years in the Air Force with 4 years active
duty at Shaw AFB and another 6 at McEntire Air National Guard Base. Lonnie is the father
of Logan Long (Class of 2021) who has been attending TSA since P3 and Sadie Long
(Class of 2028) who started at TSA in K5. Both are active students in the school and
community.
Lonnie and his wife Lisa are the owners of Business Technology Partners headquartered here in
Sumter; an IT Management Services company supporting small and medium IT/Computer
infrastructures throughout the US. Lonnie is a graduate of the University of SC and has a
Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with a minor in Information Security along with
holding several high level IT industry certifications. He also worked as an Adjunct IT
instructor at Central Carolina Technical College where he taught for several years including
working with ReadySC and CCTC to develop an IT training curriculum for new hires at
Sykes Call Center here in Sumter. He will also be filling a spot on the CCTC IT advisory
board this fall.
Michael Hill
Michael Hill and his wife, Ashley, live in Eastover, SC. Their two boys, Carter (Class of 2026) and Mason (Class of 2030) are currently attending TSA. Michael attended TSA beginning in preschool and throughout middle school and graduated from Lower Richland High school in 1995. Ashley went to TSA from preschool through high school and is a graduate of Thomas Sumter Academy Class of 1998. Michael is very active at TSA assisting with many sports as an assistant coach. Michael enjoys the outdoors and raising his boys on the family farm.
After graduating from high school, Michael started working at International Paper in September 1996 and is currently a Team Manager there. He also owns his own farm, Michael Ray Hill’s Farm. Michael comes from a long line of farmers. He is also an avid hunter and fisherman, spending most of his spare time at the farm and enjoying the outdoors.
Michael is a member of Eason Memorial Baptist Church in Eastover, SC. He has served as a deacon of the church and is a respected member of the community.
