I was born and raised in Jasper County. Living in Baytree Apartments as a child I have memories of great leaders. Leaders such as Mr. Gardner in our summer basketball league, and Coach Stokes in my time playing football at Jasper County High. However, my memories also include growing up with a single mom who struggled throughout her life with drug and alcohol addictions. As a result, I lost my mom to those addictions at the age of sixteen, but God had a bigger plan. At the age of ten, I left home and was placed into foster care. Christmas of 1989 I was placed in a foster home with Rodney and April Malphrus.
I immediately noticed something different. They were the most loving people I had ever met. During the summer of 1990 I was placed with the Malphrus family on a permanent basis. I experienced something I had never experienced before, they gave me structure with love, we attended church regularly, and showed me a life with God. This new life led me to making one of the best decisions, giving my life to Christ. I was not only led to a new life in Christ, but a new life in the Malphrus family.