Welcome to Hazelwood Pickelball Sports

• Annette is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in administration management. With a heart for service and as a passionate advocate for community, Annette brings a unique blend of expertise and enthusiasm to Glenn Hazelwood Pickleball.

Professional Background:

• Annette Thurmond holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with a concentration in Finance from the University of South Carolina- Aiken. She also has an Associate Degree in Accounting, in Paralegal Studies, and a certificate in Microsoft Office Applications Professional. With a background in management and accounting, Annette has held the roles of Treasurer with Richmond County Neighborhood Associations Alliance, the roles of treasurer, vice-president, and president with Ridge Forest Neighborhood Association, and as Secretary and Treasurer within various ministries at New Exodus Baptist Church, and currently serves as one of the USA Pickleball Ambassadors to Richmond County, GA and is a USA Pickleball Credentialed Referee. Her vision and commitment to growing pickleball and having the sport of pickleball accessible in all communities has been an invaluable asset to the team.

Why Annette Serve:

• Annette joined Glenn Hazelwood Pickleball because she believes that sports can and should be inclusive of every age group and ability. Not having participated in sports outside of elementary school, Annette's introduction to the sport of Pickleball brought out an enduring love of friendly competition while building enduring connections that transcend our differences. There is a place in pickleball for the leisurely social play to the gusto athlete, for youth to our super seniors.

• Pickleball is a community where everyone from the grandchild to their grandparents can be on the court together. This is the drive for her dedication to pickleball and is deeply rooted in her journey to grow pickleball in the underserved communities.

• Outside of the boardroom, Annette enjoys dancing, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren and family. She volunteers her time with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs. She loves to read and share information.
• Annette is deeply connected to her family and her community.
• Annette is always eager to connect and help grow Pickleball.

• My passions are Jesus, my family and veteransin that order.  I was born in the summer of 1955 on July 18th in the small town of Wadley, Georgia. At the age of 6 years old I moved to Brooklyn, New York with my father. It was a major culture shock. But while growing up in Brooklyn I learned what it meant to be a Black man. At a young age I was thrust into the Civil Rights movement. One of my first jobs was working for a program called Youths in Action. This program was designed to help young men and women from low income families to gain experience on how to navigate and interact with the world. I was a summer counselor for the program. Also while working for Youth in Action I had the opportunity to campaign for Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to serve in Congress.
       I graduated from the New York school of Printing, after graduating, I knew I wanted something different for my life and although my father had a thriving messenger business he wanted me to take over, I joined the US NAVY.  While in the Navy I met my wife who was also serving in the Navy. We married and had two daughters and have been together for 44 years. After 20 years of service to the Navy I retired. Retiring in Connecticut, my wife and two daughters  and I moved to Rochester New York. Here I went to work for the New York State Office of Children and Family Service. I worked with troubled and incarcerated children ages 10 to 17 for another 17 years. It was challenging to say the least. In 2013 I retired a second time and my wife and I moved to Orlando Florida.
       Orlando started a new chapter of my life where I joined the National Association for Black Veterans(NAVBETS), who assist veterans and their families in receiving their benefits from the Veteran Affairs. While in Orlando Florida I was elected to the position of Commander for the NAVBETS Chapter 0115. My wife and I decided that Orlando, Florida was too crowded, too busy with too many people, so we made the decision to move to Augusta, Georgia. After moving here I continued to serve NAVBETS. I was voted to the position of Region 9 Commander.  The 9th Region Commander is responsible for South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republuc. I also serve on the Mental Health Council at the Charlie Norwood VA Hospital. In addition I serve on the Outreach  wVeterans Ministry at Tabernacle Baptist Church. I will contnue to serve veterans and the community as long as God allows me to do so.