Board of Directors
DeAna Jo Vivian
Executive Director
An operations specialist, DeAna was a regional trainer and developer of a comprehensive training manual for the South Central Region of Ford Motor Credit. She managed departments of up to 30 staff members and multi-million dollar budgets while simultaneously serving on the Board of 23 Ford Motor Company dealerships.
A seasoned professional with a commitment to service, DeAna is an Entrepreneur and Licensed Professional Counselor. She is a graduate of Spelman college and obtained her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University. DeAna is the founder of “180 Counseling Practice”, a thriving professional trauma informed counseling practice which utilizes Spiritual guidance as well as evidenced based approaches. She utilizes her professional skills to restore wholeness to those who are oppressed.
Coleman Vivian
Interim Chair
Coleman is currently a Major in the United States Air Force and a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. Since entering the military in 2014, he has served in several capacities, supporting counterterrorism operations in the Middle East, counternarcotics efforts in Latin America, and humanitarian relief/disaster responses in Central America and the Caribbean, as well as advising foreign militaries in Southeast Asia. Coleman is the grandson of Dr. C.T. Vivian, as well as the son of DeAna Jo Vivian, Executive Director of C.T. Vivian Foundation.
Denise Morse
Treasurer
Denise earned her BA degree from Clark College in 1982 and an MBA from Atlanta University in 1984. After working as a Sales Representative for the Clairol Company she began a small business, Computer Ed, which taught computer technology and basic programming skills to thousands of private school students in the Atlanta GA area for 17 years. For the past 15 years Denise has worked as a Sales Representative and Sales Manager for Variety Fundraising, LLC, a fundraising company that she also began. She has worked with the Fayette County GA NAACP. She is the mother of two and is married to Attorney Carlton Morse, Jr.
Wayne Overstreet
Secretary
Wayne Overstreet is a 20-year Film and Television Executive and Co-Founder of GO Media Productions. GO Media Productions is a full-service company helping to invest into Georgia’s film business and keep important post-production jobs like film-editing, sound design/music and special visual effects in Georgia. GO Media Productions provides state of the art infrastructure for film and post-production in Georgia by training a new generation of talent while cultivating growth in the industry and creating substantial employment opportunities for Georgia with an emphasis on providing avenues for the traditionally underserved.
Sean Daley
Database Marketer
Sean is a graduate of the University South Florida, where he earned his B.S. in Economics, B.S. in Finance, M.B.A. in Sport Business, and M.S. in Sport & Entertainment Management. He currently finds his profession as a Database Marketer. Mr. Daley co-launched and co-leads VOUS Prison Care, the Prison Ministry of VOUS Church in Miami. The ministry creatively partners with local and national organizations to bring connection, community and hope to those facing incarceration by facilitating programs like group discussions, fitness events, writing opportunities, sermons, and more. It is his passion to see redemption, rehabilitation and restoration in this world.
Peggy Still Johnson
Non-Profit Development Executive
Peggy Still Johnson’s career has spanned from artist, composer, producer, educator to entrepreneur and nonprofit professional. Peggy has a Bachelor of Music Degree (specializing in film composing) and graduated Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Kappa Lambda and will receive her MBA in 2023. Peggy was the Executive Director of Callanwolde Fine Arts Center for five years and led a successful capital campaign, renovated three historic buildings (receiving an award from the Georgia Trust), and transformed the center in what should have taken 10 years in only 5 years. A professional pianist, keyboardist, vocalist, and organist, Peggy has performed all over the world and in many church congregations (solo/band) and is excited about working with Tiger Turn Label performing and recording Christmas and Easter music and hymns.
Dr. Deborah Johnson-Simon
Museum Anthropologist
Dr. Deborah Johnson-Simon– is a museum anthropologist and the Founder and CEO of The African Diaspora Museology Institute, Inc. She taught anthropology at Savannah State University and has worked for many years on museum and cultural heritage projects in several states. She earned her Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, and her MA in Anthropology and Museum Studies from Arizona State University in Tempe Arizona. She is currently the Scholar in Residence at SSU in the Asa H. Gordon Library. She has authored of several books She is the co-editor of the Second Generation of African American Pioneers in Anthropology, (2018) and Taig’s Gift the Kulture Keepers Cookbook (2022)
Tameka Rish
Corporate Executive
Tameka Rish is a 20+ n innovative, forward-thinking business professional with omnichannel experience building 360 campaigns incorporating creative, social and digital media, traditional media, experiential, and sponsorship activation. Tameka is a strategic servant leader who uses effective communication and development of culture within her teams to drive growth and change within organizations. Established a flag football program in Zambia through global humanitarian work. She has traveled to more than 36 countries and has considerable experience working with executive leadership for blue chip global brands.
Larri Rose
Educator and Licensed Professional Counselor
Larri Denise Rose is an Atlanta native and graduate of Benjamin E. Mays high school. She earned a Bachelor or Arts degree in Psychology and a Masters of Science degree in Professional School Counseling from Mercer University. Larri has worked in her field as a Professional School Counselor for 10 years; working 7 years in Clayton County Schools and now in the virtual arena for the past 3 years. Larri is also a National Board Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor as well. Larri is a dedicated wife and mother to her 3 children. Larri has a heart to serve others. She founded a youth mentoring group called GRACE Girls in 2013 for young female teens. She now serves on the board of the C.T. & Octavia Vivian Foundation non-profit organization. Larri is the maternal granddaughter of the Dr. Reverend CT Vivian and Octavia Vivian. Larri has a strong desire and passion to preserve legacy and empower the community through advocacy and service.
Shofaetiyah “Sho” Watson
Attorney at Law
Sho Watson is Of Counsel at Edmond & Lindsay, LLP, where he represents clients in legal matters involving wrongful death, medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injury, and products liability. Additionally, Sho serves as a part-time judge in Fulton County Juvenile Court.
Sho, a native of Newport News, Virginia, received his undergraduate degree from Morehouse College. He also holds a Master’s degree from Florida A&M University, and a law degree from The Howard University School of Law.
Sho currently resides in East Point.
George Andrews
Board Emeritus
George Gary Andrews is currently Director of Institutional Development for Unity National Bank in Atlanta, GA. He is the founder and former CEO of Capitol City Bank & Trust, a bank which had several branches in Atlanta and offices throughout Georgia. Andrews started the bank in 1994, with the goal of providing minority small business owners with access to capital and developing strong ties with the urban community. He was educated at Booker T. Washington High School and Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia where he received both a meaningful education in academics and the sensitivity to serve his community. After college he joined Trust Company Bank until he began forging his dream of forming a financial institution dedicated to support the urban and minority community.
Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley
Chair EMERITUS
Dr. Gerald L. Durley was born in Wichita, Kansas. He grew up in California and graduated from high school in Denver, Colorado. A deep interest in improving the civil and human rights of African Americans While earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, and serving as student government president, he became very active in the civil rights movement. After graduating, Dr. Durley became one of the first Peace Corp volunteers to enter Nigeria, West Africa. From Africa he ventured to Switzerland where he enrolled in postgraduate studies at the University of Neuchatel. Combining the disciplines of psychology and religion, Dr. Durley moved to Atlanta, Georgia and accepted the position as Director of the Counseling Center at Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University). He later became Dean of Student Affairs at Clark Atlanta University. His concern for families and children encouraged him to accept the Executive Directorship of the Head Start Program for Fulton and Douglas.
Dr. Doris Derby
ARCHIVIST (1939-2022)
MEMBER EMERITUS
Dr. Doris Derby, PHD., is an activist, documentary photographer, filmmaker, and retired adjunct associate professor of Anthropology at Georgia State University (GSU), author, exhibitor, speaker and art collector. She was active in the Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama Civil Rights Movement, and much of her documentary photography work reflects themes of social justice, civil rights, culture, racism and activism of African-Americans during that time. She was a working member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (S.N.C.C.), co-founder of the Free Southern Theater, and later, the Founding Director of the Office of African-American Student Services and Programs (O.A.A.S.S.P.) at GSU from 1990 to 2012. Dr. Derby’s photography has been exhibited throughout the United States, in France and the UK. Her photographs have been published extensively in magazines, newspapers and books, for example, in Hands on the Freedom Plow: Personal Accounts by Women in SNCC, to which she also contributed an essay about her experiences in the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement. She has a newly released book of her photographs and poetry.
Dr. Derby lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Bob Banks, an actor and retired Army Veteran. They are both active leaders in their community and members of local and national organizations.
Dr. Derby’s personal book collection, which contains over 1600 books by and about African and African-Americans, will be included in the CT & Octavia Vivian Foundation Library.
Donations
Thank you for donating books that are written by Black authors and or about the African American experience. We ask that your donated books be hard back (no paperback) and in good condition.
If you believe your book donation is greater than its retail face value, please have your donation professionally appraised by a certified, licensed book appraiser prior to sending your donation to C.T. Vivian Foundation. We are not licensed appraisers, nor do we recommend appraisers. We will acknowledge receipt of all donations in writing.
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