Board of Directors

Michael McNeal was raised in Leesburg, Ga and is a 1998 graduate of Lee County High. While at Lee County High Michael was involved in symphonic band and marching band serving as Drum Major his senior year. Also, Michael was a part of the drama tech team and became an Honorary Thespian. During his senior year he started his career at UPS. After working at UPS for 18 years Michael opened Eggs Up Grill in Albany Ga. Opening Eggs Up Grill has given Michael the opportunity to be able to give back to his community in various ways. Michael served on the Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet School Governance team for 4 years. Currently Michael serves as the Band Booster President. Michael enjoys speaking to students in the classroom and organizations sharing with them different aspects of business, leadership, service, franchisee and franchisor relationships, interviewing skills along with other skills and attributes to be successful.As a franchisee Michael has won multiple awards for performance and community service which include “The On Fire Award”, “Pace Setter Award”, “Community Service Award”, two “ Silver Egg” awards, and one “Golden Egg” award. Michael also previously served on the Marketing Advisory Board for 4 years and currently serves on the Franchise Owners Advisory Committee. Michael often mentors new and upcoming franchisees that have started their discovery phase through their opening experience. Micheal has been married to his wife Rebecca for 22 years and together they have 2 children, John Thomas and Wes. Michael enjoys serving on the media team and teaching a bible study at Sherwood Baptist, along with hunting and spending time with his family.

Bradley Abell was raised in Leesburg, GA and is a 2004 alumni of Lee County High School. Bradley is a Certified Public Accountant with Hutchins Clenney Rumsey Huckaby PC. He and his wife, Emily, have two children, Nora and Elias. Emily is a teacher at Twin Oaks Elementary School. Bradley is the current Vice Chairman of the Lee County Education Foundation. Bradley has been involved in several other community organizations. He is a Past President of the Artesian City Sertoma Club and Past Board Chairman for Flint River Habitat for Humanity. He was also the 2020 winner of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s 40 Under 40 Financial Services Category. Bradley holds bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance from the University of West Georgia. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, and playing golf. Bradley is honored to serve on the Lee County Education Foundation Board. He hopes to be able to give back to the same schools and educators that provided an outstanding education to him.

Mrs. Melissa Paul began her career in education in 1996. She has spent the majority of her career teaching first and second graders in Georgia and South Carolina public schools, with the majority of her teaching experience being in the Lee County School System at Kinchafoonee Primary. Her current role in the Lee County School System is being the K-2 Literacy Coach in the county. Melissa is a life-long learner. She has earned a B.S. in Early Childhood Education, a M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction, and an Ed.S. in Early Childhood from Georgia Southwestern State University. Additionally she holds a Reading and Coaching Endorsement. She is currently working towards becoming a Growing Readers Regional Facilitator through the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. Melissa has been married to her husband, Danny, since 1997. They have two grown children, Gavin and Lauren Elizabeth. Both of their children were Lee County High School Honor Graduates.

Patsy James has been the Executive Director of Lee County Family Connection for 15 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Georgia Southwestern in 2005 and her Master’s in Social Work from Valdosta State University in 2009. She was a non-traditional student, returning to complete her education after the death of her husband, David, in 2002.
Patsy has served our Lee County Community with great fervor for 15 years, implementing such programs, through Lee County Family Connection, as Backpack Blessings, the Christmas Store, Literate Lee, and an award-winning Youth Leadership program.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Lee County Chamber of Commerce, Lee County Library, Lee County Education Foundation, Southwest Georgia Community Action Council, and the Distinguished Alumni committee.

Patsy was named the Lee County Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 2012 and was also named the Lee County Kiwanian of the Year in 2012. In 2016, Lee County Family Connection, Inc. was named Non-Profit of the Year.

Patsy grew up in Sylvester, Georgia – the youngest of 3 girls – in a single-parent home. Even though she grew up without many material items, she grew up with much love. It is because of the indelible mark her childhood left upon her that she is so passionate about the work of Family Connection – whose mission is to work as a catalyst for improving the quality of life for Lee County’s children and families.

Gary Unger is a RETIRED Music Educator and Church Music Director. His experience includes teaching students in elementary, middle and high school. He has enjoyed the experiences of music directing over 25 musicals in schools and at Theatre Albany. The honor of Teacher of the Year was presented to Mr. Unger 3 times during his tenure in the Lee County Schools. He enjoys teaching private piano and voice lessons. Mr. Unger is married to Suzanne, also a retired music teacher in the Lee County Schools. Mr. Unger comes out of retirement each spring to become the music director for the Lee County Theatre Arts productions.

Dr. Joshua K. Posey Josh, Jodi, Jacob, Micah, and Andrew moved to Leesburg in September 2020 when he became the Senior Pastor at FBC Leesburg. His wife, Jodi, is the Music Teacher at Twin Oaks Elementary School. Jacob is in his senior year at LCHS and Micah and Andrew are students at LCMSE. The Posey family enjoys family time, serving together at FBC Leesburg, taking trips, spending time outdoors, and using their musical talents. Josh has served in various ministry leadership positions since 2001 and has served as a a lead pastor since 2008. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Samford University (Birmingham, AL), his Master of Divinity degree from Beeson Divinity School (Birmingham, AL), and his Doctor of Ministry degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (New Orleans, LA).

Mrs. Donna Ford represents District I on the Board of Education and serves as Vice-Chair. She has served on the Board since 2019. One of the areas she is committed to and passionate about for the Lee County School System is early learning. Her hope for our students is that their reading and math skills would continue to improve and that our early learners would excel in Phonics.

Yolanda Robinson is the Communications Coordinator for Lee County Schools, located in Leesburg, Georgia, and is a product of the Lee County School System - having attended LCSS from kindergarten through graduation. Ms. Robinson has several years of sales, customer service, and Public Relations experience which began upon her graduating from Tennessee State University in Nashville. She was offered a position at a marketing firm as a Public Relations Account Coordinator. Since that time, Ms. Robinson has worked in sales, promotions, and marketing in Tennessee, New York, and New Jersey and has even been a youth pastor in Australia - faith is a huge part of her life. She’s been a certified public speaker since 2007 and has spoken to thousands of students across four countries. Ms. Robinson has a heart for kids so working for a school system is perfectly aligned to that passion and she is delighted to continue to raise-high-the-banner of the Lee County School System.