by Patty Jo Sawvel

Most people would never guess that General James “J.R.” Gorham needed a second chance as a young man.  This is largely because he has never shared this chapter of his life publicly.  On April 24th, as the keynote speaker for Kernersville Cares for Kids 7th Annual Lunch & Listen, General Gorham will recount the events that turned his life around.  In doing so, he hopes to show the audience—adults and youth alike—how to become PPI’s or Positive Pivotal Influences.

“Several pivotal people caused me to turn the wrong way,” General Gorham explained.  “One caused me to turn the right way.”

The problem did not begin in his early childhood.  Even though young J.R. grew up in a four-room house with 11 people—his mother and father, his paralyzed uncle and his wife, and his six siblings—J.R.’s parents knew that a home was much more than material possessions.

“My dad was a sharecropper—about one step above slavery—so we did not have much. But my dad enriched our lives with wholesome influences at church, school, work, or while visiting relatives,” General Gorham explained.

All of this was in an effort to help the children grow into responsible and caring adults.  In fact, his dad believed in the influence of other people so strongly he used to tell J.R., “Boy, you are becoming your company.  Whoever you hang around, that is who you are becoming.”

The problem was, young J.R. began to resent the carefully thought out restrictions that his father had imposed.  When J.R. finally left home and could “do whatever he wanted” he chose to hang out with a group of guys that quickly steered him in the wrong direction.

Later, a Positive Pivotal Influence came into his life.  This person could see positive attributes in the future General that he could not yet see in himself.  This person helped J.R. Gorham pivot his life quickly and become a PPI for others.

General J.R. Gorham brings to the podium, not only his own life experience, but years of service in the Juvenile Justice system, 38-years of military service culminating in retirement as a Brigadier General, and 29 years of experience in the business world of banking.  Currently, J. R. Gorham serves as Executive Officer for the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice within the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.  See details below to attend this event.  Have lunch with local youth and become a PPI.  Proceeds support Kernersville Cares for Kids (KCK), a student-driven program that helps local youth stay free of drugs and underage drinking.  If you cannot attend, you are invited to purchase a ticket to sponsor a student.

EVENT: 7th Annual KCK Lunch & Listen

PLACE:  Glenn High School, Kernersville

DATE:  Thursday, April 24

TIME:  11:15am Buffet opens 12:00pm – 1:00pm Program

COST:  $35 a ticket or $210 for a table of six

For more information, contact KCK President Doug Kiger at 336-341-8214 or visit the website at www.KernersvilleCaresForKids.org.  Make checks payable to Kernersville Cares for Kids.