Life After Woodlawn L.A.W.: A faith journey powered by God fifty years later

Dr. Gary Speers served as the fifth and final principal of Brownwood Elementary School. He has served as assistant principal of Collins Intermediate School and Scottsboro Junior High School, as well as at risk coordinator and attendance officer for Scottsboro City schools. Dr. Speers also has served as city councilman for the city of Scottsboro and is currently a board member on the Scottsboro Board of Education.

Speers was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended Birmingham City Public Schools and graduated from Woodlawn High School. He earned an athletic scholarship to Alabama A&M University, where he played football and earned his bachelor's degree.

He married the late Kimball McQueen of Scottsboro, and they have three daughters-Kristin, Rebecca, and Stephanie. Currently, they have eight grandkids.

In addition to his bachelor's degree, he holds the following degrees: bachelor of theology from Birmingham Baptist Bible College, master's degree in school counseling from Alabama A&M University, AA certification administration education from University of Alabama, and educational specialist degree (EdS) and a doctor of education specializing in education administration from the University of Alabama.

Speers has worked in the nuclear power industry throughout the United States as a 3.1 ANSI-qualified senior radiation protection technician. He has worked in the Birmingham public school system and served with the school systems' at-risk dropout prevention program. He and his family moved to Scottsboro in 1993, and he was subsequently hired as a magistrate and the first African American juvenile probation officer for Jackson County Juvenile Court.

In Scottsboro, he founded New Harvest Ministries for a short term and was later called to pastor Saint Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church for over ten years. He continues to remain actively involved in community affairs and events, working with such organizations as the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center (cofounder), Weatherly Carver Foundation (chaplain), Boys and Girls Club of America (board member), Emergency Food and Shelter National Board, Scottsboro Citizen Police Academy (class president), and Angel Food Ministries (former area coordinator for the Scottsboro distribution center).

Board member and past president of Lions International (Scottsboro, Alabama). Speers is currently the pastor of Aspel Community Church in Scottsboro. He has been a member of God's Praise Motorcycle Singing Gospel Ministry and enjoys antique cars and riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

This is the story of having faith in God and how it affords opportunities, experiences that inspires and encourages. It is about having the desire and willingness to try different things to see what life is all about and different outcomes. For instance, it is about "Let's just see what happens next." During each adventure, each journey, and each step, you know where your help comes from. It is from the Lord. When you see obstacles removed and opportunities avail themselves, you experience the movement of something that is bigger than you. It is in the hand of God's favor. In each instance, you must give God the praise, glory, and the honor, for He richly deserves it, for it is all about Him and not about you.

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