Albert Bussey
Albert Bussey is the Director of Bands and the director of the 6 time Grand Champion Ware Co. High School Jazz Band. He also serves as Fine Arts Department Head. Mr. Bussey came to Waycross after serving as an assistant director with Valdosta High’s Marchin’ Cats for three years. He served as assistant director for two years with Waycross High’s “Pride of Waycross” and in 1993 - 1994; served as the Director of Bands for Waycross High School during the “Ultimate” year of the school. Under Mr. Bussey’s leadership the marching band received superior ratings and traveled to London England. The Advanced Symphonic Band also received superior ratings at the GMEA District Festival. Mr. Bussey graduated from Lowndes High School in 1984 where he served as Drum Major his senior year for the “Ga. Bridgeman”. He graduated from Valdosta State University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Music Education. While at VSU he served as Drum Major two years, sang in the concert and chamber choir and was a 1st chair trombone player in both the concert and jazz band. Mr. Bussey graduated from Troy State University with a Masters in Education in 2009. He is a member of the Ga. Music Educators Association of which he serves as District 8 Jazz Chair, Music Educators Nat’l Conference and has been a guest columnist for Ga. Music News. Mr. Bussey’s concert bands have received numerous superior ratings and regularly judges throughout the state at marching and concert festivals. He is the founder of the Waycross Jazz Festival which has brought many high school, college and professional groups to our community. He serves as Sr. Pastor and CEO of Victory Bible Believers Fellowship, Inc. He is very happily married to the former Crystal Norman of Quitman, Ga. and they have four children Albert III, Anthony, Andrew and Amber.

Jeffrey Nelson
Jeffrey Nelson is in his fifteenth year as an assistant director and arranger of the Golden Gator Band. Mr. Nelson has arranged music for High School bands throughout Georgia and Alabama for over 23 years. He currently serves as tuba instructor of the Golden Gator Band. He was formerly director of the Center Junior High School Band and assistant director and music arranger for the “Pride of Waycross” High School Band for seven years. He served as director of the Lanier County High School Band for nine years. Mr. Nelson holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Troy State University. He has served as choir director of Winona Park United Methodist Church for thirteen years and is in his seventh year as the tuba player in the Waycross Brass. Mr. Nelson is married to the former Lynn Kent of Moultrie, and they have two children – Jeffrey and Andrew.

Kathy Harbuck-Cox
Mrs. Cox is a native of Warner Robins. She graduated cum laude with a
Bachelors degree in Music Education and later received her Masters
degree in Education from Troy State University. She is a member of the
Music Educators Association, a past president of the Women Band
Directors International, member of the National Band Association, Tau
Beta Sigma Band Sorority and Kappa Delta Pi Educational Society. She
is currently the editor of The Woman Conductor, the quarterly journal
of the WBDI. She has served the 8th District Georgia Music Educators
Association as their treasurer since 1990. Mrs. Cox is assistant
music director at Trinity United Methodist Church. This marks her 26th
year in Ware County where she is band director at Ware County Middle
School. She is married to Gary F. Cox.

Brooke Richardson
Brooke Richardson is currently in her second year as Auxiliary Instructor, Assistant Band Director, and Winter Guard Instructor with the Golden Gator Marching Band. Brooke also teaches band, drama, and chorus at Ware County Middle School. Prior to coming to Waycross, she spent 2 years in Bacon County as a General Music teacher at Bacon County Elementary, a Band Director at Bacon County Middle School, and Assistant Band Director/Auxiliary Coordinator/Winter Guard Instructor with the Bacon County High School’s Marching Band. Brooke graduated “Cum Laude” with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance on flute from Valdosta State University. Over the past nine years, she has performed with the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, the Valdosta Wind Ensemble, the Valdosta Blazin’ Brigade on flag, many small ensembles, and The Brewton Parker Community Wind Ensemble. She is currently a member of the Women Band Directors International and the Georgia Music Educators Association. Brooke is a former member of the Golden Gator Marching Band and a native of Waycross, Ga.  Brooke recently married Jamie Richardson of Chula, Ga. in June of this year.  Her parents are Joe and Katryna Hayes of Waycross.

Michael Leeth
Michael Leeth received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Jacksonville State University as well as a Masters degree in Percussion Performance from East Carolina University.  Over the past nine years, Michael has performed with various orchestras throughout Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina.  He has been the featured soloist at Alabama Day of Percussion, and a featured performer at the North Carolina Day of Percussion. Michael was a member of the JSU Indoor Drumline earning 1st place at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 1999.  While at East Carolina, Michael directed the ECU Percussion Players from 2004-2006. Since 1999, Mr. Leeth has tutored percussion students, at various high schools across the southeast.  Michael has been Percussion Director for the Ware County School System for three years.  He directs the marching drumline, percussion ensemble, and the indoor drumline, while still performing regularly with the Long Bay Symphony in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Mr. Leeth is a Vic Firth endorsed educator, and a sought after adjudicator for marching band festivals. He is also a member of Music Educators National Conference, Georgia Music Educators Association, and Percussive Arts Society.  He is married to the former Jessica Dixon of Charlotte, NC.

Jonathan Bagley
Jonathan Bagley is currently in his fifth year as an assistant with the Golden Gator Band, and is also the assistant Band Director at Waycross Middle School. Prior to coming to Waycross, Mr. Bagley spent five years working as both a marching instructor and clinician for band programs throughout the state of Georgia. Programs that Mr. Bagley worked with had symphonic bands that went on to play at local and regional conferences as well as marching bands ranked as high as 13th in the nation. As a performer, Jonathan was a four-time member of the Georgia High School All-state bands and orchestras. He was also a member of the 1999 John Philip Sousa National Honors Band in Washington, D.C. While earning his degree in Music Education from the University Georgia, Jonathan played on recordings with the University Wind Ensemble that can be found on Summit Records. Mr. Bagley recently finished a 5-year term with the Tara Winds Community Band based out of Atlanta and is currently serving in his fifth year as a member of the Waycross Brass. Jonathan is the grandson of Waycross residents Bill Allen and Mae Allen and was recently married to Jennifer Bowen, Science teacher at Ware Middle.

Sissy Dewitt
Sissy DeWitt is a graduate of Ware County High School and Valdosta State University.  She has a BSN and was certified to teach early childhood education.  She was a majorette for the Golden Gator Band and a member of GA Allstate Band.  She has taught baton for several years, including baton camps in GA and FL.  She has taught handbells, children’s and adult choirs.  Currently she directs the adult choir at Williams Chapel Baptist Church.  She is married to Mark DeWitt, guidance counselor at Ware County Middle School.  They have 3 children, Will, Megan, and Jordan.

Michelle Weeks
Michelle Weeks is from Gainesville, Florida where she graduated from Eastside High School and was a member of the Marching Rams. She is in her 8th year of teaching and in her 6th year at Ware County Middle School where she teaches 6th Grade Science and Social Studies. In 1999, Michelle graduated from St. Leo University with a degree in Elementary Education. Then in 2006, she graduated from Troy University earning her Master’s in Foundations of Education. She also attended the University of Florida where she was a member of Fighting Gator Marching Band’s Florida Visual Ensemble for the 1987-1990 seasons. She now works with our Golden Gator Band as the Colorguard instructor. This is her 3rd season with the band. Go Gators!!!

Kim Callahan
Dr. Kim Callahan, a graduate of Ware County High School, was majorette captain in the Golden Gator Band.  Dr. Callahan earned a degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Georgia, a masters degree in School Counseling from Valdosta State University, and a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University.  She was Gatorette captain in the Fighting Gator Marching Band at the University of Florida, and a former Atlanta Falcon Cheerleader.  Dr. Callahan is a school counselor at Wacona Elementary School and the dance line instructor for the Golden Gator Band.  She has one daughter, Alexis.