Director Bios for the 2025 Annual Meeting are located here.
District 3 Candidate: James "J.W." Simmons
J.W. Simmons is a lifelong resident of Sampson County. He attended NC State University where he received a Master’s in Adult Education with a minor in Public Affairs.
He retired from Sampson Community College after over 30 years as Director of Adult Education with specific oversight for Community Services, Small Business Center, Emergency Services, Lifelong Learning, etc. Additionally, he is producer and host of the weekly talk show “WE SHOULD KNOW” on Star Communication TV Channel 16 and simulcast on WCLN.
Simmons is actively involved with the community serving in many capacities including: elder and past board chair at Carr Memorial Christian Church; NC Community College Adult Educators Association; State Employees Credit Union advisory board member; chairperson local emergency planning committee; past president of Clinton Sampson County Rotary Club; Sampson County Substance Abuse Coalition member, Eastern North Carolina Gang Conference planning committee; and chair of the local emergency planning committee.
Simmons joined the South River EMC Board of Directors in 2018. He has been a member of South River EMC for 45 years and he has a keen interest in seeing the Cooperative prosper and grow in the interest of all members.
Simmons has achieved his Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate, Board Leadership certificate and Director Gold certificate.
He lives in the Clinton area with his wife, Betty.
District 5 Candidate: Rhonda Autry
Rhonda Autry is a lifelong resident of Sampson County. She graduated from Lakewood High School and attended Wake Technical Community College where she received a certificate in computer operations. She has also attended Basic Law Enforcement Training and worked as a reserve officer for the Sampson County Sheriff’s office.
Autry has been a member of Mount Carmel Church of God of Prophecy for 43 years. She is involved in the band booster program at Midway High school.
Her work experience has been being raised as a farmer’s daughter. She says she can drive anything and everything that moves. Her family were independent farmers who raised hogs and grew tobacco, corn, soybeans, and wheat. According to Autry, “this has been a lifelong job up until the last 8 years. Now I just maintain our farm with a lot of mowing in any capacity.”
She added, “My interests in South River EMC came from growing up with a father who was a director. He was so proud to be a director and as I got older I understood why. Our linemen have the most dangerous job there is. They deserve the respect of every person who lives under South River EMC. Those employees deserve directors that are for their safety and make sure they have the equipment they need to look after the members. When I hear people talking about different co-ops I always say we have the very best. Being a director for South River EMC would be an honor. I’m proud of our men and women that work in any weather condition to provide all of us with electricity.”
Autry is a proud mother of three children: twin sons and a daughter
District 5 Candidate: Dr. Ron Faircloth
Dr. Ron Faircloth has lived in Autryville his entire life. After graduating from Clinton High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree from N.C. State University followed by his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. He has been an Optometrist in Sampson and Cumberland counties for over 25 years and is a partner at
Carolina Eye Associates.
He has served in several leadership roles over the past 25 years, including serving nine years on the Sampson County Board of Health and as a member of Clinton Rotary. He has also served for over seven years on the North Carolina Optometric Society (NCOS) Executive Council and currently serves as immediate past president after serving one year as president and as the
PAC treasurer. Dr. Faircloth also serves as church treasurer and pianist at Long Branch Baptist Church.
He says, “I have always felt that having great leaders in our communities is essential to supporting the citizens of the communities we live in. I have always been a good listener but also willing to voice my opinion and stand up for what I feel strongly about. I was raised with great moral character and integrity and am a great communicator. With this, and my history of past and current leadership positions, I feel I would be a great asset as a board member of South River EMC.” Faircloth has been a member of South River EMC for over 26 years.
Faircloth and his wife of 25 years, Heather, have two sons, Cullen and Miles.
District 7 Candidate: Wayne Collier Jr.
Wayne Collier Jr. joined the South River EMC Board of Directors in 2017. Rural living has been a mainstay in Collier’s life. He grew up on a family farm and received a Bachelor’s in Animal Science from NC State University; he worked for his family farm raising hogs as well as tending row crops and Bermuda hay all while working full-time for the U.S. Postal Service.
Collier is a lifelong member of the Cooperative. He also served on the nominating committee for several years before assuming the unexpired term of director from District 7 in June 2017. Collier has deep roots in his community serving in many capacities over the years with the following organizations; as a deacon and elder of Sardis Presbyterian church; the Westarea Fire Department; Cumberland County Farm Bureau Board of Directors; Cumberland County Soil and Water Supervisor; N.C. Soil and Water Commission; Cumberland County Board of Elections (as judge and chief judge); Linden Christian Men’s Fellowship; Cumberland County Livestock Association; Cumberland County 4-H; Cub Scouts; Boy Scouts; and the U.S. Pony Club.
Collier has achieved his Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate, Board Leadership Certificate and Director Gold Certificate.
He lives in Linden with his wife Carolyn.