Veterans

Sam Woods, a native of Fayette County, shared his journey of military service, reflecting on sacrifice, duty and remembrance. After graduating from Fayette County High School in 1999, he joined the U.S. Army, inspired partly by his family’s military background and the desire for personal growth beyond college.

James “Jimmy” Hoffman Gullett, Senior, age 97, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 7, at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa. A graveside service was held on Monday, Aug. 12, at Fayette City Cemetery.

After being extinguished for approximately 40 years, the Fayette Gas Board and citizens of Fayette made a concerted effort to relight the “Eternal Flame of Freedom” that was erected on the Fayette Co. Courthouse lawn in the 1960s to honor “Veterans of all wars from Fayette County.”

A large group of local veterans attended the Bevill State Community College and Fayette Co. High School’s annual Veterans Day program, held on Monday, Nov. 6. Navy Veteran and 1992 FCHS graduate James A. Henry was the guest speaker for the event. Henry began his military career in April 1993, and has earned numerous awards and commendations throughout his career.

Christopher Phillips is the new Veterans Service Officer for Fayette, Pickens and Lamar counties, effective Dec. 1, 2021. After training for one month in Jasper, he now works out of the local area offices to serve local veterans. Phillips was born in Texas, and moved several times as a young child before his dad left the military and he settled in Alabama. He grew up in the Alexander City area, and graduated high school in 1995 from Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery. In 1999, Phillips joined the Navy, where he trained as an Aviation Structural Mechanic.

The Fayette Middle School held its annual Veterans Day program on Nov. 10 to recognize and acknowledge local veterans who proudly served in the United States Armed Services. Guest speaker for the program was First Sergeant Albert Mitchell. Mitchell is a 39-year service veteran who has participated in 12 oversees deployments.

Jerry Hallman was like many other 19-year olds when he was drafted into the Army in 1969. He had not volunteered, but he didn’t think twice about serving his country. He was drafted at a time when the United States was  heavily involved in the Vietnam War.

The annual community Veterans Day program, co-sponsored by Fayette County High School and Bevill State Community College, was held on Monday, Nov. 8 at the Earl McDonald Auditorium at Bevill State in Fayette. The featured speaker for the program this year was Chance Stevenson, a 2018 graduate of Fayette County High School and currently a senior at the United States Air Force Academy.

After years of having to travel to Tuscaloosa for medical services or use a mobile unit in Fayette, local veterans now have a more conventional and comfortable facility to receive medical help with the opening of a storefront Veterans Medical Clinic in Fayette. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Thursday, April 29 for the new clinic, which is located in the DCH Medical Office Building on Temple Avenue North in Fayette. The ceremony was attended by local clinic staff members, local officials, VA, DCH and FMC administrative officials, several local veterans and U.S.