BLACK HISTORY MONTH BC ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Mr. Jermal Patterson '91

"I can't say enough of how well Benedictine prepared me for my future. Let's talk about academics first. I entered Benedictine as a youngster for whom academics always came so easily. I made great grades and did not have to study much to get them. My twin, Jermane, and I caused some havoc in class when we were in parochial school because a lot of times we were bored. Benedictine was different. Benedictine taught me the value of studying. Freshman year, I quickly realized that I couldn't just rely on my memory of subjects anymore but I had to take good notes. I had to make sure that those notes were organized and I had to really study them. Some of my standout teachers were Mrs. Caparisos (Senior English), Mrs. Ledford, who also was my homeroom teacher,(Advanced Algebra 1 and 2), Fr. Anthony (Latin 1 and 2) and Fr. Ronald (religion). I felt that they were very good teachers. I have carried the study habits that I learned at BC forward into my professional life. The JROTC component of BC also helped shape me because I learned discipline and personal responsibility. I am often asked 'How are you so disciplined about certain things?' and I say that it is because I went to BC and we had to be disciplined. SGM Reichart, SGM Kirby, Chief Carl. and Lt. Col Owens were my JROTC instructors during my four years at BC. Each expected the best out of you and pushed you to be the best. Earning that gold star was important for our program. My company was company of the year my senior year. The third thing that helped shape me was athletics. I played football, ran track, and played two years of basketball. We had highs and lows during my athletic career at Benedictine. One of the highs was beating Johnson High School my senior year when they dared to make BC their homecoming opponent. I had one fumble scoop-and-score for a touchdown, a blocked punt, and a game-clinching interception in that game. On the track, I made it to state in the 100m and the 4X100m. We had solid coaches during my time. Coaches Walsh, Bracket, Cannon, Munch, Orsini, Yeckley, Fr. Albert, Fr. Anthony (track) and, of course, Coach Harry Deal. Each taught you that the sport was more than just a game but a way to learn teamwork. One man cannot win a team game. You must work together. Just like in business, a team must work together. Benedictine is a special place. A young man entering Benedictine cannot ask for a better place to get a solid education, be a part of  an outstanding JROTC program, participate in a top-notch athletics program, and have an opportunity to make friends for a lifetime. That is why Benedictine is the best high school in Savannah, Ga."

 

 

"When I graduated from BC, I enrolled in Savannah State and majored in business management. I also attended Wallace College and University of Phoenix as a business management/leadership major. I started a career in retail management and transferred to Alabama and then to Tennessee in the mid-to-late 90's. I then was transferred back to Alabama and one day a friend, who was a regional manager in RTO, introduced me to a different kind of retail called 'rent to own.' I was a little skeptical at first but I decided to try it. Boy, was it a ride. Over the last 20-plus years, I have managed districts and regions in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. I have met many great people of all different backgrounds. I have grown professionally. The most important and the most enjoyable part of the business is helping people. I have helped young men and young women develop personally and  professionally, and become store managers and district managers. I have helped customers who would have been without necessities find a way to get them. I enjoyed my time in the industry. However, last year I decided it was time to try something else so now I work in the financial services industry. I still get to help people but just in a different way now. In my personal life, I am married to the former Nicole Fedd and together we have 10 children (six for me, four for her). Everyone is grown. We also have four grandchildren combined. I have been a Bible study teacher and a Sunday school teacher in the Baptist Church. All of Fr. Ronald's religious classes paid off. I coached little league football and T-ball for awhile at the YMCA in Montgomery, Ala., with my younger brother, Elmore III,  when I lived there. One thing that I am excited about now is a new venture that my wife started and I am helping her with called Vonic Residential. Vonic Residential provides independent living housing at affordable rates for men and women who are struggling with housing insecurities. In our area, housing insecurity is a major problem. Finding affordable housing after you have lost housing is an even bigger problem. Rent in our area can run from $2,000 to $3,000 per month. Many just cannot afford that payment. We provide a safe, clean, affordable shared space for those who are in need. I cannot tell you how thankful our residents have been to have this opportunity to just, in some cases, have a stable place to come home to every day. I don't have an official title with the company but I guess you can call me the vice president of operations. I am excited about this new venture for my wife and myself. Helping others is something that we believe in firmly."