GA DJJ Welcomes New Board Members

Decatur, GA - The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is pleased to announce today three new appointments to the Board of Juvenile Justice and the reappointment of six sitting board members by Governor Brian P. Kemp. The Board of Juvenile Justice consists of 15 members, each appointed by the Governor, and establishes the agency's general policy. 

"I am honored to appoint three new board members of the Department of Juvenile Justice," said Governor Brian Kemp. "Each of these individuals have proven their commitment to improving the juvenile justice system in our state and impacting the lives of Georgia's youth. I look forward to working alongside them to accomplish the goals set forth by the DJJ and the State of Georgia."

Joyette Marie Holmes of Cobb County, Ga., Kathryn Lauranne Powers of Clayton County, Ga., and Timothy Dewayne McCulley of Cobb County, Ga. will now serve alongside current board members in a five-year term expiring July 6, 2026. 

"We welcome our three new members to the Department of Juvenile Justice Board," said DJJ Commissioner Tyrone Oliver. "I look forward to working with them as we strive to transform and rehabilitate the young lives in our care."  

Holmes will serve as the Eleventh Congressional District Representative, succeeding Dick Yarbrough, whose term expired on July 6. Holmes most recently served more than four years as the elected Chief Magistrate Judge for the Cobb Judicial Circuit and previously served as District Attorney for the Cobb Judicial Circuit. Holmes is currently a member of the Gregory Doyle Calhoun & Rogers law firm.

Powers will serve as the Thirteenth Congressional District Representative, succeeding James Valburn, whose term expired on July 1, 2019. Powers previously served as a Superior Court Judge in the Clayton Judicial Circuit and as a State Court Judge in Clayton County. She is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor at Mercer University School of Law and serves as the law school's Director of Advocacy.

McCulley will serve as the Fourteenth Congressional District Representative, succeeding Elaine Snow, whose term expired on July 6. McCulley has served as the pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church for the last 19 years and started the Philadelphia Christian School and North Georgia Baptist College. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Rock of Ages ministry. 

DJJ also welcomes the following reappointed board members:

• Willie C. Bolton (Congressional District 10). Bolton, a native of Athens, Ga., is a 41-year law enforcement veteran who retired as warden and director of the Athens-Clarke County Department of Corrections. He has served as a Board of DJJ member since 2012.

• Thomas L. Coleman (Congressional District 4). Coleman, a resident of Lithonia, Ga., retired from the United States Air Force after more than 25-years and is a former DJJ Deputy Commissioner. He has served as a Board of DJJ member since 2012. 

• Angie M. Holt (Congressional District 8). Holt is a resident of Warner Robins, Ga., and has a distinguished career in Georgia law enforcement that spans more than 30 years. She has served as a Board of DJJ member since 2012.

• Penny A. Penn (Congressional District 7). Penn, a resident of Cummings, Ga., is District Attorney for the Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit. She has served as a Board of DJJ member since 2016.

• Fred E. Stephens (Congressional District 9). Stephens of White County is a former Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge who retired from the agency after more than 31 years of service. He has been a member of the Board of DJJ since 2013. 

• Gary A. Yandura (Congressional District 6). Yandura is Chief of Police for the City of Brookhaven and has served on the Board of DJJ since 2020. 

The Board of Juvenile Justice is a combination of professionals, attorneys, law enforcement, public servants, and others interested in improving the juvenile justice system in Georgia. The objective of the Board is to provide leadership in developing programs to rehabilitate justice-involved youth committed to the state's custody successfully and give guidance to the Commissioner.

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The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice is a multi-faceted agency that serves the state's justice-involved youth up to 21 years of age. The Department's mission is to transform young lives by providing evidence-based rehabilitative treatment services and supervision, strengthening youth and families' well-being, and fostering safe communities. Visit us online at www.djj.georgia.gov.