Our Chaplains
Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Chaplains are ordained members of the clergy who donate their time and talents in partnership with the members of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office in service to our communities. Our Chaplains foster relationships with staff members and the community by providing confidential, compassionate and caring support during both emergency and non-emergency situations that occur. Their mission is to serve our personnel, the community and inmates in matters of personal, marriage, job or spiritual counseling. They also assist first responders at natural and other disaster scenes under a unified command structure.
The Rev. Kenneth R. Gross | 706-799-5697 | Contact by Email
Chaplain Ken Gross began his service to RCSO in 1982. Since that time he has taken on several other chaplaincies including eight years with the FBI in Atlanta. He presently serves the Georgia State Patrol, the GBI and Georgia Homeland Security. During his years of service, he has become a certified Senior Chaplain with the International Conference of Police Chaplains and a charter member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is also a POST certified instructor. He has never been a church pastor but considers law enforcement personnel as his congregation. He performs many weddings and takes many funerals for that congregation. He and his wife of 53 years, Pat, have two children, 14 grand-children and two great grandchildren.
Chaplain Benjamin Small Jr. | 706-231-5165
Chaplain Benjamin Small Jr. is the Family Life Chaplain for the Archdioceses United Christian Fellowship, International. This organization of more than 450 churches is Headquartered in Daleville, AL. Bishop Small is a 1978 graduate of Columbia, International University (Columbia Bible College), BA in Biblical Education and a 1982 graduate with a MDiv from Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana.
He has more than 50 years of experience in preaching, teaching, counseling, and administration. A former pastor, U.S. Army Chaplain, Augusta State Medical Prison Chaplain, Augusta Youth Development Chaplain currently serving as an Elder with Community Bible Fellowship, Augusta, GA. He currently teaches at (ATS) The Augusta Theological Seminary Affiliated with Georgia Baptist Convention Bible Institute (for the past 27 years). Benjamin and his wife Arleen have been married for 50-plus and are the proud parents of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
The Rev. Bobby G. Hankerson |706-294-4848 | Contact by Email
Bobby G. Hankerson, a native of Augusta, Richmond County, is married, the father of adult daughters, a grandfather and a great-grandfather.
The Rev. Hankerson is a 1965 graduate of Lucy C. Laney High School in Augusta He received a diploma in Theology from the American Baptist Theological Seminary, Augusta Extension. He received his Associate of Arts degree ranking Summa Cum Laude, and Bachelor of Arts ranking Magna Cum Laude from the American Baptist College in Nashville, Tenn. In furthering his education, he attended Erskine College Seminary Masters Program in Due West, SC. The Rev. Hankerson received his Bachelor of Theology and Master of Pastoral Counseling from the Andersonville Baptist Seminary in Camilla, GA. He received five units in Clinical Pastoral Education CPE from the College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy, Walden Correctional Institution.
The Rev. Hankerson retired from Gracewood State School and Hospital after serving nearly 32 years as a physical therapy technician. He previously served as an organizer of the local Weed and Seed National Crime Prevention Program and past President of the Barton Chapel Progressive Neighborhood Association. He was elected and sworn in January 2002 as the Augusta-Richmond County Commissioner, District 5 and served thorugh December 2005.
The Rev. Hankerson has 31 years of pastoral experience. He is currently the pastor of Hammond Grove Word Power Ministry, North Augusta, SC, where he has served for 22 years. He also serves as dean of the Augusta Theological Seminary of the American Baptist College, Augusta. He previously served as Chaplain at the Augusta State Medical Prison for five years. He currently serves as Associate Chaplain at the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
Chaplain Sherrye’ Bingham Jefferson |706-513-1102
Chaplain Sherrye’ Bingham Jefferson has spent 25 years in prison ministry. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in /Communications and a Masters in Biblical Studies/Counseling. She is a Licensed Pastoral Counselor, Certified ACA Chaplain, an Ordained Christian Clinical Counselor and a Certified Belief Therapist.
Please Take A Moment to Read Our Prayer
Dear God,
Protect me as I walk my beat (Proverbs 30:5)
Offer your guidance and I will always perform with loyalty. (Psalms 73:4)
Listen to my problems and help me fine the solutions. (Psalms 16:7
Inspire me to keep an honest mind and strong body/ (Romans 12:17, Proverbs 20:29a)
Cover Me. For with you I will have the courage to face the unknown. (Deuteronemy 31:6)
Eliminate my negative thoughts, as they will shadow my judgment. (Matthew 15:19)
Own me so that I may never bring disrespect to my uniform. (Romans 6:11, James 4:17)
Follow me into situations that may be dangerous. (Ephesians 8:11, Psalms 5:11)
Feel my frustrations and help me to overcome them. (1 Peter 2:21, Hebrews 4:14-15)
Insist that I never tarnish my badge with corruption. (Provers 17:23)
Call on me to keep the peace. (Matthew 5:9, Romans 14:19)
Erase all of my fears annd I will never be carefless. (Proverbs 20:25)
Remind me to look for the good in society so I do not focus on the bad and respect the job that I do, for it is my best effort. (1 Corinthians 19:13, Romans 12:9)
In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.