Board of Trustees

Born and raised in Henry County, Mrs. Holly Cobb graduated from Henry County High School in 1988. She continued her education at the University of Georgia, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management in 1992. After her graduation, Mrs. Cobb began her career with Norfolk Southern. She later chose to focus on her family and community, becoming a full-time mother and an active volunteer in her church and local organizations. Her commitment to education and community service led her to run for the Henry County Board of Education, where she served from January 2017-December 2024. During her tenure on the board, she was chosen by her colleagues to serve as Vice Chair for two years and Chair for two years. Mrs. Cobb follows in the footsteps of her father, who also served on the school board. She is passionate about our students and providing teachers with the resources they need and is proud of the hard work and dedication of the district's employees.

Mrs. Cobb has also been involved in many other organizations including the Georgia Education Coalition (GEC) where she served as Vice Chair for two years and Chair for two years, is a graduate of Leadership Henry, where she also served as a board member for three years, and Youth Leadership Henry, where she served as a board member for two years and is now serving as Chair. She is also a board member of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce and Kids Point Learning Center, which is a faith-based childcare center. Recently, she has begun using her expertise on the Henry County Board of Education to train other local boards of education through the Georgia School Boards Association. Serving on the Henry County Public Schools Foundation Board will allow her to combine her passion for public education with her desire for community service. Mrs. Cobb is looking forward to working alongside the other board members to make a difference in our school system.

Mrs. Marla Reddick is a resident of Henry County. She is the Director of Business Data Governance for the Coca-Cola Company, Financial Services Division, and serves as a member of the Henry County Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the Magnolia (GA) Chapter of The Links Inc., and Women’s LINC. Mrs. Reddick has an exemplary record of service to the community. She was recognized by the Honorable Judge Stephen Knights for leadership to youth in Henry County and served as the Chair of the Capital Campaign for Creekside Christian Academy.

Mr. James Xavier Johnson is a dedicated professional whose background in and passion for marketing have established him as an industry leader. He earned a degree in theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and also holds a doctorate in organizational psychology and leadership.

Mr. Johnson is dedicated to community service and fostering growth in others through roles including coach, mentor, and servant. He is an inaugural graduate of Henry County Schools' 2023-2024 Community Leadership Academy.

Mrs. Kimberly Redd is a dedicated advocate for community development and enhancing educational opportunities. She is an active member of the school council at Stockbridge High School, collaborating with educators and parents to foster a supportive learning environment.

As a proud parent of children Henry County Schools graduates, Mrs. Redd values quality education and community involvement. Her personal experiences drive her passion for ensuring all students have access to the resources they need to succeed.

Mrs. Redd has a master's degree in educational/instructional technology, which she looks forward to leveraging in supporting the Foundation’s mission. She also has a background in talent management.

Mrs. Debra O’Quinn holds a master’s degree in math education from Georgia Southern University and a leadership certificate from the University of Georgia, enhancing her expertise in educational administration. She is an active member of Glenn Haven Baptist Church.

Mrs. O’Quinn has a distinguished career in education, starting as a math teacher and an instructional specialist at Henry County High School. She retired from the district after serving as an instructional specialist and an assistant principal for at Ola High School, leaving a legacy of excellence in educational leadership.

Mrs. O’Quinn has a long history of service to the community, including serving alongside her husband at Bethany Baptist Church and actively supporting the church’s mission. She regularly prepares meals for the homeless and was a dedicated supporter of the former Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC).

She is the proud mother of her two children, both graduates of Henry County High School, and her daughter has followed in her footsteps and is now an educator in Henry County Schools

Mrs. Natasha Branch has an extensive background in sales and advertising. She has held leadership roles in various organizations, including Google, AOL, and Monster.com, and successfully managed advertising portfolios for Fortune 500 companies, demonstrating her ability to drive results and innovate in competitive markets. Building on her success in advertising, Mrs. Branch transitioned into real estate, establishing herself as a top performer and trusted expert.

Mrs. Branch is deeply committed to her community and seeks to leverage her skills and passion for service in enhancing educational opportunities for Henry County students. Her professional expertise and community engagement reflect her belief in the power of education and service. Natasha is a wife and proud mom of two HCS students. She is also a proud graduate of Henry County Schools’ Community Leadership Academy.

Mr. Octavia “Fitz” Bryan is a native of Eastern North Carolina. He has held leadership roles in the for-profit sector and is well-regarded in the marketing and finance industries. However, Mr. Bryan also has a spirit-led passion for human services. He has been employed with the City of Atlanta Department of Finance in various roles, including financial analyst, associate treasurer, and senior financial manager, for over 26 years. He has volunteered and worked as a child advocate with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services and served on nonprofit boards. In 2020, he helped launch a local initiative to release incarcerated black men unjustly convicted of white-collar crimes and help them return to their communities as productive citizens. 

He also assisted the successful launch of Youth in Crisis, a program for grief-stricken young adults, and supported other organizations, including Bread of Life and My Sister’s House, which provide services ranging from counseling and suicide prevention to STEM and intramural programs. He aided the development and implementation of Black Men Swim, a recreational program promoting safe swimming practices and health awareness within the Black community. 

Mr. Bryan serves on the Board of Transforming Life Church, LLC,  and Murrell Social Services Network, Inc. His commitment to humanitarian causes makes him a tireless advocate for the underserved, supporting diverse initiatives aimed at promoting safe and stable families, mental health awareness, equity, and accessibility. It is also his objective to inspire men locally, nationally, and globally.

Mrs. Cindy Armistead Crawford experienced living abroad as a military child before returning home to Henry County. She attended Hampton Elementary School and Henry County Junior High School and graduated from Henry County High School in 1988. She continued her education at Mercer University and graduated in 1992 after pursuing double majors in political science and human services and development and a double minor in German and psychology.

Mrs. Crawford began her career as a counselor in a psychiatric hospital, a challenging job she credits with enhancing her understanding of people and life. She later chose to focus on her family and become a full-time mother of two who are now Ola High School honors graduates.

She currently owns Ruth Ruby’s Antiques & Vintage, turning her love of history, antiques, and preservation into a gratifying business. Her passion for human services inspired numerous volunteer efforts over the years, including leading a domestic violence support group.

Mr. Shashee Patel resides in Henry County and owns DonutNV, a mobile, interactive food truck franchise based in McDonough. He is a dedicated volunteer and philanthropist who supports community events that benefit children, families, and schools throughout the county.

Mrs. Alpa Panchal is a visionary leader dedicated to making a positive impact in her community. Her background and success as an entrepreneur provide a wealth of knowledge and skills favorable to her role on the Board of Trustees.  She is the president of Luxe Homes and has been the proprietor of several companies, including a Sky Zone franchise, a medical staffing agency, and a rehabilitation clinic.

Mrs. Panchal is a devoted Henry County resident with a strong history of community service and commitment to educational excellence and has actively participated in various initiatives aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for Henry County students.

Mrs. Sheryl Riggins brings a wealth of experience to her role on the Board of Trustees, including serving as a contract systems administrator, managing projects and analyzing contracts, and working 28 years with the Coca-Cola Company’s Legal Department.

Mrs. Riggins has a passion for service, whether supporting the growth of a global corporation or nurturing the next generation in our community. She currently serves as the executive assistant at Momentum Christian Church in McDonough and is an active volunteer in the Kids Ministry. Additional roles such as School Council Chair at East Lake Elementary, underscore her commitment to improving the educational experience for students and fostering a stronger relationship between the school and the local community.  

Mrs. Riggins always strives to make a positive impact and has a keen ability to streamline processes, solve complex problems, and collaborate across teams. She is married with three children who all attend Henry County Schools.

Mrs. Chimiya Turner-Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Georgia State University, a master’s in English education from Troy State University, and a specialist degree in educational leadership from Columbus State University.

Her background in education also includes 18 years of experience in roles such as secondary English Language Arts teacher, gifted support teacher, department chairperson, instructional coach, secondary literacy specialist, and secondary literacy coordinator for Atlanta Public Schools. Mrs. Turner-Smith is passionate about literacy and community engagement and is committed to fostering student success and teacher growth. She is a member of the National Council of Teachers of English, the Georgia Council of Teachers of English, and the International Literacy Association.

Mrs. Chimiya Turner-Smith has been a proud resident of Henry County since 2014.  She enjoys reading, traveling, attending concerts, and spending time with her family. She is also the proud parent of a Henry County Schools student.

Laura Whitaker Shortt is a successful sales and marketing executive with more than 25 years successful sales and marketing experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.  Laura has been the Director of Community Relations and Volunteer Services for Piedmont Henry Hospital since 2021. In her role she is responsible for all community relations marketing and volunteer services operations which includes community engagement, fundraising and volunteer recruitment.  Prior to her role at Piedmont Henry Hospital, she Physician Outreach Consultant where she successfully created new healthcare programs, and grew psychiatric market share in key health markets in pediatric, adult and geriatric services.  Laura has worked for world class healthcare organizations including Johnson & Johnson, Barnabas Health, UHS, Acadia, and HCA.  Laura is a behavioral health advocate and speaks regularly on the topics of youth, veteran and first responder suicide awareness and prevention. Laura has had the privilege of partnering with the Jason Foundation, Inc., Henry County Schools, Houston County Schools, Bibb County Schools, Robins Air Force Base, the Veterans Administration and Houston County Fire on stigma reduction to improve access to care for patients and their families.   

Laura is a graduate of Seton Hall University and resides in Henry County Georgia with her family.